- Copilot for Microsoft 365 Advanced is a powerful productivity tool that enables users to work more efficiently, enhance their productivity & skills, and improve their overall work experience.
- Users can harness advanced generative AI capabilities to draft and summarize content relevant to their work, all within the context of their Microsoft 365 apps.
- This add-on licensed service is integrated into M365 apps like Teams, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc. It is connected to your business data and uses your permissions to work with the data related to your current context.
- Agencies must opt in with a service authorization to make the license an option for their staff. Agencies can also choose to enable web content functionality for their staff. This choice either allows Copilot to pull in web search results or only use work files when responding to a prompt.
Key Features
- Intelligent suggestions: Copilot provides context-aware suggestions to help users complete tasks more efficiently. This includes recommending relevant documents, emails, and calendar events.
- Task automation: Automate routine tasks such as scheduling meetings, sending follow-up emails, and generating reports. Copilot can handle these tasks based on user preferences and historical data.
- Insights and analytics: Gain valuable insights into work patterns and productivity trends. Copilot analyzes user activity to provide actionable recommendations for improving efficiency.
- Seamless integration: Copilot seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, ensuring a consistent and unified user experience.
- Personalization: Tailor Copilot's functionality to individual user needs. The assistant learns from user interactions to provide personalized recommendations and support.
Other details to know
- State data never leaves Microsoft 365 – All prompts, responses, and content remain within the Microsoft Government Community Cloud (GCC) environment.
- Copilot only accesses data users already have permission to view – This includes emails, documents, chats, and files directly shared with them.
- Copilot should not be used for regulated or high-risk data – If unsure, employees should consult their Data Practices Officer.
- Data is not used to train AI models – Prompts and responses expire according to Teams Chat retention policies.
- Enterprise-grade security protections apply, including encryption, access controls, and data isolation between Microsoft customers.
Web Content Access: Limited and Controlled
- If enabled by an agency, Copilot Chat (Included) or Copilot for M365 (Advanced) may enhance responses with public web search results.
- These searches are secure, never shared with advertisers, and not used to train AI models.
- An anonymized query is sent to Microsoft Bing search and does not include documents, files, emails, or user identities.
- Results are clearly labeled "from the web", so employees always know when information comes from public sources.
- Web queries expire after 24 hours and are only retained for auditing within Microsoft 365.
How Copilot Advanced works within M365
This tool is integrated into Teams, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc. It is connected to your business data and uses your permissions to work with the data related to your current context. In Word this means it can suggest, rewrite, summarize, or perform other actions related to writing. In Outlook this means it can read emails and suggest responses, recognize meeting events and schedule new ones, or other actions related to communication. Each instance of copilot is tailored to the component services with the Microsoft 365 (M365) suite of products.
Word
- Generate text with and without formatting in new or existing documents.
- Use Word files as grounding data for other prompts.
- Create content, summarize, ask questions, and do light commanding.
PowerPoint
- Create a new presentation from a prompt or Word file using enterprise templates.
- Use PowerPoint files as grounding data for other prompts.
- Summarize, perform Q&A, and make deck-wide formatting changes.
Excel
- Get suggestions for formulas, chart types, and insights about data in your spreadsheet.
Loop
- Create content that can be collaboratively improved through direct editing.
Teams
- Summarize up to 30 days of chat content, not including meeting transcripts, emails and files.
- Use the transcript in real-time to answer questions during meetings.
- Automate administrative tasks of calls, like capturing key points and next steps.
OneNote
- Use prompts to draft plans, generate ideas, create lists, and organize information.
Forms
- Use prompts to draft questions and suggestions for creating surveys, polls, and other forms.
Outlook
- Get coaching tips on clarity, sentiment, and tone.
- Summarize email threads and draft emails by pulling content from other emails or Microsoft 365.
How to get the service
- Agency leadership can contact MNIT Relationship Management to start the authorization process.
- Request individual user licenses through the Minnesota Service Hub
Cost
- Details of the cost for Copilot are currently under review by The Minnesota Department of Management and Budget (MMB).
What is not included
- MNIT does not provide development.
- MNIT does not provide daily monitoring services.
