Getting Started with Microsoft Copilot Chat

Get help analyzing a document, summarizing a report, or extracting data from a spreadsheet. Copilot will read the file and respond with insights, summaries, or edits—just like a helpful assistant.

1. Click the paperclip icon in the chat window
2. Upload your file (PDF, Word, Excel, etc.)
3. Ask Copilot questions like:
   • “Summarize this report.”
   • What are the key findings in this spreadsheet?”
   • Rewrite this paragraph in simpler language.”

Create visuals for a presentation, course material, or research poster

• Type a prompt like: “Create an image of a futuristic university campus at sunset”
• Copilot will generate a unique image based on your description
• You can download or refine the image by adjusting your prompt

Use Cases:

• Faculty designing lecture slides
• Students creating project visuals
• Admins building marketing materials

Pages are single-topic documents where you can focus on one task at a time. They’re great for quick writing, editing, or summarizing—especially when you don’t need a full notebook.

• Write or paste content and ask Copilot to improve or summarize it
• Use it for short tasks like drafting emails, writing bios, or summarizing articles
• Save and revisit your work later

Use Cases:

• Researchers: Write an abstract or summarize a journal article
• Students: Write a reflection journal or summarize a reading
• Faculty: Draft a syllabus or assignment instructions

• Study Aid: Ask for explanations of complex concepts or topics in simpler terms to improve understanding.
• Homework Help: Use it to clarify questions or problems, getting hints or guidance on how to approach assignments without giving direct answers.
• Research Assistance: Generate ideas for research topics or gather overviews of subjects to help with the initial stages of a project.
• Drafting and Outlining: Get assistance in creating outlines for essays or projects, helping to organize thoughts and structure arguments.
• Practice Questions: Request practice questions or quizzes on specific subjects to reinforce learning and prepare for exams.
• Feedback on Writing: Share drafts of essays or papers for constructive feedback on clarity, structure, and grammar, helping to improve writing skills.
• Language Learning: Use for vocabulary practice, grammar explanations, or conversation practice in a foreign language.
• Summarizing Material: Summarize articles, textbooks, or lecture notes to distill key points and aid in review.
• Study Techniques: Ask for tips on effective study strategies, time management, or exam preparation techniques.
• Group Project Collaboration: Use it to brainstorm ideas for group projects, ensuring that contributions are original and collaborative.
• Exploring Different Perspectives: Ask for various viewpoints on a topic to better understand diverse opinions and enhance critical thinking.
• Clarifying Instructions: Seek clarification on assignment guidelines to ensure a complete understanding of what’s expected.

• Course Material Development: Generate outlines, summaries, or supplementary materials for lectures and course content.
• Creating Assignments: Draft assignments or exam questions that align with course objectives, ensuring variety and depth.
• Feedback on Teaching Materials: Get constructive feedback on lecture slides, syllabi, or other instructional materials to enhance clarity and effectiveness.
• Research Assistance: Use it to gather insights on recent developments in their field, summarize academic papers, or explore new research ideas.
• Student Engagement: Generate discussion prompts or questions for classroom debates to encourage active participation and critical thinking.
• Writing Support: Assist in drafting emails, newsletters, or announcements to students, streamlining communication.
• Exploring Pedagogical Strategies: Ask for suggestions on innovative teaching methods, technologies, or assessment techniques.
• Diversity and Inclusion Resources: Generate ideas for promoting diversity and inclusivity within the classroom or curriculum.
• Professional Development: Access tips on time management, work-life balance, and other strategies to enhance productivity.
• Creating Study Guides: Develop study guides or review sheets for students to aid their exam preparation.
• Clarifying Student Questions: Provide clear explanations for common student questions or concerns about course material.
• Grading Criteria Development: Create rubrics and grading criteria for assignments to ensure transparency and fairness.

• Drafting Emails: Quickly generate professional email drafts for various purposes, such as inquiries, follow-ups, or announcements.
• Brainstorming Ideas: Use it to brainstorm ideas for projects, campaigns, or problem-solving, helping to overcome creative blocks.
• Summarizing Documents: Provide summaries of lengthy reports or articles, making it easier to digest key information.
• Creating To-Do Lists:  Organize tasks by generating structured to-do lists based on project requirements or meeting notes.
• Conducting Research: Ask for information on a specific topic, helping to gather insights or overviews without extensive searching.
• Writing Reports or Proposals: Get assistance with the structure and content of reports or proposals, including key points to cover.
• Generating Meeting Agendas: Create outlines for meeting agendas, ensuring all relevant topics are covered and facilitating efficient discussions.
• Drafting Social Media Posts: Generate engaging content for social media platforms, tailored to your audience.
• Customer Support: Use it to draft responses to frequently asked customer inquiries or support tickets.
• Training and Onboarding: Create training materials or FAQs for new employees, simplifying the onboarding process.
• Translating Text: Quickly translate phrases or short documents, aiding communication in multilingual environments.
• Providing Feedback: Get constructive feedback on written content or presentations, helping to refine and improve work.

Microsoft Copilot Chat includes a built-in Agent Builder to create your own intelligent assistant—called an Agent—without needing a paid license or access to Copilot Studio.

• Customizable: Tailored to your department or workflow
• Task-focused: Built to help with things like scheduling, data analysis, or content creation
• Always available: Ready to assist 24/7

Agents are like specialized digital assistants built with Copilot’s intelligence. They’re designed to perform specific tasks or support particular roles—like a research assistant, teaching aide, or student advisor.

1. Open Copilot Chat
2. Click Create Agent on the left navigation pane
3. Copilot will launch the Agent Builder interface
   • Name your agent (e.g., “Study Buddy” or “Course Assistant”)
   • Describe what it should do (e.g., “Help students understand biology concepts”)
   • Set the tone or personality (e.g., friendly, formal, concise)
   • Add a public-facing website as a knowledge source (can only be 2 layers deep e.g., https://learn.microsoft.com/copilot/microsoft-365)
4. Click Create Agent, and your new agent will appear in your Copilot Chat sidebar, ready to use anytime

With Agent Builder, you can:

• Create and save multiple agents
• Add publicly available websites as knowledge sources
• Customize their behavior and tone
• Use them in any Copilot Chat session
• Share them with others via a link

• Screen Reader Support: Copilot works with popular screen readers like Narrator, NVDA, and JAWS across Microsoft 365 apps.
• Keyboard Navigation: Navigate Copilot Chat using only your keyboard—no mouse required.
• Natural Language Input: Type prompts in plain language to reduce cognitive load and simplify complex tasks.
• Simplified Language: Ask Copilot to rewrite or summarize content in simpler terms for easier comprehension.
• Multilingual Support: Copilot can understand and respond in multiple languages, supporting ESL learners and multilingual users.
• Tone & Clarity Assistance: Copilot can help interpret tone in emails or rewrite messages for clarity—especially helpful for users with neurodiversity.