Microsoft Copilot for PC

Microsoft Copilot for PC is an official generative artificial intelligence chatbot of Microsoft corporation, launched in February 2023 as a replacement for Cortana, and is now available for public use via a standalone app that can be downloaded on any modern Windows 10/11 PC.



Based on the large language model Microsoft Prometheus, built upon OpenAI's GPT-4, and fine-tuned using both supervised and reinforcement learning techniques, this powerful AI assistant integrates seamlessly with various Microsoft 365 applications and effortlessly enhances productivity and creativity across different platforms.

Capable of easily parsing natural language and offering support with daily productivity management and text writing/refining tasks, this tool has today proven to be one of the best ways anyone can supercharge their daily productivity.

The service is especially good with managing large amounts of data and generating new documents based on provided data, including data analysis in Excel, creating presentations in PowerPoint, drafting emails in Outlook, and generating text and images based on user prompts.

Advanced users can utilize the capabilities of this AI assistant platform not only to boost their productivity tasks, but also directly utilize it in software development, security tasks, various service tasks, sales, and much more.

In addition to the Individual tier of service, more demanding users can also take advantage of the premium Business tier of offering, or even create their customized AI copilot with deep integrations with Microsoft Copilot Studio and Microsoft Azure AI Studio.



All in all, the desktop version of the app is designed to assist users in their daily workflows, providing AI-powered assistance in a convenient manner at home, school, work, and on the go.

Key Features

• Text, Voice, and Image Capabilities – Communicate and generate content with AI assistant without any limitations.
• Instant Summarization – Easily extract the most notable data from documents and web pages.
• Image Creation – Full integration with Microsoft Designer empowers users to generate images based on text prompts.
• AI-Powered Browser – Deep integration with Microsoft Edge, providing smarter browsing capabilities and instant access to AI services.
• Web Grounding – Provide ground truth web data to extract more accurate and relevant information from AI copilot.
• Plugins and Copilot GPTs – Full support for a wide variety of plugins and Copilot GPTs for enhanced functionality.
• Commercial Data Protection – Advanced service that makes sure no valuable commercial data is leaked.
• Customization and Extensibility – Premium customization and extensibility through Microsoft Copilot Studio.

Installation and Setup

While this AI assistant comes bundled with all versions of Windows 11, users who want to reinstall this service or get it up and running on Windows 10 can download the official installer either from the Microsoft website or the secure FileHorse server.

The installation procedure is quite ordinary, requiring users to just follow a few simple on-screen instructions. This app does not require any additional customization in addition to signing up with Microsoft Account.



To get started with Microsoft Copilot on Windows, users can open the app from the Start menu or use the Copilot icon on the taskbar. If the device keyboard includes a dedicated Copilot key, it can also be used to launch the app. Copilot uses the user's Microsoft account to provide personalized assistance and access to a wide range of features.

How to Use

Once fully installed, this AI assistant can be activated in two ways – by clicking on the dedicated Copilot key, or by starting the app that enables direct interaction with the AI assistant service.



The main dashboard of this app promotes a small text field where users can input their AI queries, enabling fast and seamless interaction with this cloud-powered service. The newest PCs that feature a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) module can also perform various basic AI processing tasks locally, without the need for contacting powerful and secure cloud servers.

Users can resize, move, and use Snap Assist with the Copilot dashboard app, just like they would with other Windows apps. They can also use Alt + Tab to switch focus between Copilot and other open apps. If needed, users can close Copilot by selecting the Close button at the top, and it will reopen with their previous chat content intact.

User Interface

The user interface of Microsoft Copilot for Desktop is intuitive and easy to navigate. The simple dashboard promotes instant text entry and an easy way to copy data from provided answers or verify the authenticity of the data by following the provided web links.

As with all competing AI assistant services based on ChatGPT technology, users can ask a range of questions, from simple to complex, and receive instant responses based on their prompts.

The app also provides autocomplete assistance while typing, making chatting easier. It also integrates with the clipboard and allows users to drag and drop images for rich interaction.

FAQ

What is Microsoft Copilot for PC?
It is a generative AI chatbot dashboard for Windows 10/11, designed to assist users with various tasks, including data analysis, email drafting, text writing, text optimization, coding help, image creation, and more.

Is it safe?
Yes. This AI assistant service operates under Microsoft’s “Responsible AI Standard” platform, ensuring data privacy and security.

Alternatives

ChatGPT – The world’s most popular and revolutionary AI assistant technology, developed by the team from OpenAI.

Google Assistant – A virtual assistant developed by Google, offering similar functionalities to Microsoft Copilot.

Apple Siri – A virtual assistant developed by Apple, integrated deeply with Apple devices and services.

Ashampoo AI Assistant – AI for everyone - the power of ChatGPT in your hands!

Pricing

Copilot Plan: Free, with access to most features.

Copilot Pro Plan: $20/user/month, offering faster responses during peak times and faster AI image creation powered by DALL-E 3.

Copilot for Microsoft 365: $30/user/month addon for Microsoft 365 suite of productivity apps.

System Requirements

• OS: Windows 10 or Windows 11
• Network: Broadband internet connection

PROS

• Deep integration with Windows OS and Microsoft 365 apps and services.
• Enhanced productivity.
• Improved creativity.
• Customizable via premium tools.
• Optimized for individuals, teams, and businesses of all sizes.
• Can take advantage of local and cloud processing hardware.
• Flexible pricing, with highly capable free tier of use.

CONS

• Content accuracy.
• Some learning Curve.

Conclusion

Microsoft Copilot is a powerful AI assistant desktop app designed to enhance productivity and creativity for Windows users. Its integration with various Windows services, Microsoft 365 applications, and Edge browser makes it a versatile tool for various tasks, from home individuals wanting to accelerate basic productivity tasks, teams seeking to innovate and collaborate, and large businesses that demand perfection during large data set analysis.

While it may require some time to get used to its functionalities, the app's potential for improving daily workflows and enhancing creativity is significant. And the best thing yet, all Windows users can test it out for free!