Getting Started with Microsoft Copilot for the Web

Learn how to use Copilot for the Web, an AI-powered chat companion tool from Microsoft, formerly called Bing Chat Enterprise.

NOTE: Copilot grants you access to Microsoft’s standard generative AI license. Your George Mason University license does not grant you access to Microsoft’s premium services: Copilot Pro, Copilot for Microsoft 365, and Copilot Studio.

Access Microsoft Copilot for the Web

From a Web Browser:
  1. Go to https://copilot.cloud.microsoft/
  2. Log in with your NetID and Patriot Pass Password.

Using Microsoft Copilot for the Web

Before you type anything into Copilot Chat, make sure that you see the shield in the top right corner. When you click or hover over the shield a pop-up with data protection information should appear.

Note: At this time, we are still assessing the security of this tool, do not share sensitive or restricted data in Copilot. See ITS Guidance on Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools for Administrative Purposes at George Mason for more information.

Using Microsoft Copilot for the Web at George Mason

You can use Copilot to get work done faster, be more creative, or support customers better. Copilot can help you quickly generate content, analyze or compare data, summarize documents, learn new skills, write code, and more.

Faculty
  • 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: Help create rubrics and grading criteria for assignments to ensure transparency and fairness.
Staff
  • 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 brand's voice and 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.
Students
  • 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 ChatGPT 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.

Training and Resources

Reminder: Some of the resources below may mention features that are not available to you. Copilot grants you access to Microsoft’s standard generative AI license. Your George Mason license does not grant you access to Microsoft’s premium services: Copilot Pro, Copilot for Microsoft 365, or Copilot Studio.

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How to craft your prompt for AI

  • Be Specific: Clearly define what you want. Instead of asking, “Tell me about dogs,” you could ask, “What are the top three breeds of dogs for families?”
  • Provide Context: Give background information to guide the AI. For example, “In the context of climate change, explain renewable energy sources.”
  • Use Examples: If you're looking for a specific style or format, provide examples. For instance, “Write a haiku about autumn.”
  • Ask Follow-up Questions: If the initial response isn’t quite right, ask for clarification or expansion. “Can you explain that in simpler terms?”
  • Set Constraints: Limit the scope of the response by specifying word count, tone, or perspective. “In 100 words, summarize the benefits of meditation.”
  • Incorporate Roles: Frame the request by assigning a role to the AI. “As a travel expert, suggest a week-long itinerary for Japan.”
  • Iterate and Refine: Don’t hesitate to adjust your prompt based on the AI’s responses. Learn from what works and what doesn’t.
  • Use Open-Ended Questions: Encourage creativity with questions that allow for expansive answers. “What are some innovative ways to promote sustainability?”
  • Utilize Lists: If you want multiple points, ask for a list. “List five healthy snacks.”
  • Encourage Different Perspectives: Ask the AI to approach a topic from various viewpoints. “What are the pros and cons of electric cars?”

Generative AI Limitations

  • Inaccuracies: AI can generate incorrect or misleading information. It’s important to verify facts, especially in critical contexts.
  • Bias: AI may reflect biases present in its training data, leading to skewed or unfair responses based on race, gender, or other factors.
  • Context Understanding: AI sometimes struggles with nuanced contexts, leading to misunderstandings or irrelevant responses.
  • Lack of Common Sense: AI doesn’t possess real-world knowledge or common-sense reasoning. It may produce logical but impractical suggestions.
  • Limited Memory: Most generative AI systems don’t remember previous interactions, which can lead to repetitive or disconnected conversations.
  • Ambiguity in Prompts: Vague or poorly structured prompts can result in unsatisfactory or unrelated responses.
  • Creativity Constraints: While AI can mimic creativity, it lacks true originality or emotional depth, producing outputs based on patterns rather than genuine inspiration.
  • Dependency on Training Data: AI’s performance heavily relies on the data it was trained on, which can limit its knowledge of niche or emerging topics.
  • Ethical Concerns: The potential for misuse (i.e., generating harmful content) raises ethical questions about responsibility and accountability.
  • Limited Understanding of User Intent: AI may misinterpret user intent, leading to responses that don’t align with what the user actually wants.
Last modified: January 28, 2025