Copilot, Microsoft’s generative AI assistant for Microsoft 365, is now available for enterprises interested in offering the product to fewer than 299 seats. Commercial subscriptions to Copilot for Microsoft 365 allow employees to use data from the company’s Microsoft products, providing more data for generative AI to use in context. Microsoft assures customers that Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security and compliance also apply to data generated for use of artificial intelligence.
In addition, Microsoft also announced yesterday that the Copilot Pro plan for individual high-end users is now available. Users interested in using Copilot on the go can now access it through the Copilot app or the Microsoft 365 mobile app.
Copilot is executed on the Microsoft Azure OpenAI service, which is only available in North America and Europe. More information about opting into these areas to use the service elsewhere can be found through Microsoft.
New Copilot for Microsoft 365 plan designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses
Copilot for Microsoft 365 subscriptions used to be only available to customers interested in purchasing 300 seats; now, small and medium-sized businesses can purchase 1 to 299 seats.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 will be available for purchase on top of existing Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Business Standard subscriptions. Office 365 E3 and E5 customers can now use Copilot for Microsoft 365 without a Microsoft 365 license.
SEE: Generative AI is a hot topic at CES 2024 this year. Some companies such as Rabbit have proposed that AI can change the way people access online services (TechRepublic)
The main difference between Copilot Pro and Copilot for Microsoft 365 Business is that the latter integrates Copilot into Microsoft Teams.
Copilot for Microsoft 365 was developed in part based on feedback from the Early SMB Adopter Program, Brenna Robinson, general manager of Microsoft 365 for SMBs, said in an email to TechRepublic.
“Customers tell us that Copilot helps them cut through the noise and clean up their busy work so they can focus on what really matters – which is growing their business,” Robinson said.
Copilot Pro plans to provide advanced users with the latest generative AI models
Copilot’s generative AI capabilities are now available to Microsoft 365 Personal and Home subscribers through the Copilot Pro plan. The $20 per person per month plan is for power users who want to generate AI models faster (starting with OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo during peak hours) and the ability to sync Copilot across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote on PC Work, Mac, and iPad; Excel version in preview.
Microsoft’s project is aimed at artificial intelligence image creators, providing Image Creator in Designer (formerly known as Bing Image Creator) with more detailed image quality and horizontal image formats than the free version.
Copilot Pro subscribers will have access to Copilot GPT Builder when it becomes available – which the company says is coming soon. Copilot GPT Builder, like OpenAI’s GPT Builder, allows people to build custom chatbots using natural language prompts.
Copilot is available on mobile devices and Microsoft 365 apps
Android and iOS users can now access the Copilot app (Picture 1); They will be able to sync chats and queries from mobile phones to Windows PC. The Copilot app connects users to GPT-4 and Dall-E 3.
Figure A
Personal Microsoft account holders on Android and iOS phones will be able to access Copilot in the Microsoft 365 mobile app later in 2024. Microsoft said on January 15, 2024 that Copilot in the Microsoft 365 mobile app will be launched “next month”.
The Copilot app and Microsoft 365 app can be found on the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Microsoft offers custom GPT
Like OpenAI, Microsoft is betting on GPT to show people the concrete uses for generative AI, from organizing tours and presentations to serving recipes. Copilot GPT can now be used based on selected themes. Microsoft said the first batch of GPTs will provide natural language conversations around “fitness, travel, cooking, and more.” More GPTs may become available as Copilot Pro subscribers build GPTs on the Copilot GPT Builder.
Competitors of Copilot Pro and Copilot for Microsoft 365 Business
The main competitors of these Copilot products come from OpenAI and Google. OpenAI has its own premium user subscription, ChatGPT Plus, as well as a version called ChatGPT Enterprise with enterprise-grade privacy and services. Google’s Bard extension will bring artificial intelligence to Gmail, Docs, Drive and other Google services.
