Copilot for Microsoft 365

Enhance productivity with an AI-powered copilot.

Technology Services is currently piloting Copilot for Microsoft 365 across various departments, engaging selected faculty and staff to explore the potential of generative AI. See timeline below.

Take your productivity to the next level with Copilot for Microsoft 365! The innovative AI-powered solution is designed to streamline workflow and enhance daily operations.

What is Copilot for Microsoft 365?

It's an AI-driven feature seamlessly integrated within Microsoft's suite of apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more. It assists users with tasks like writing, editing, summarizing, note taking, creating data visualizations, presentations, searching, managing inboxes, and more.

Why Copilot?

Technology Services aims to leverage cutting-edge technology and innovative methodologies to boost productivity. This pilot project aims to assess the practicality and broader applications of generative AI technologies at Texas A&M by experimenting with artificial intelligence in partnership with our campus community. The pilot is focused on using generative AI in widely-used tools like Outlook, Teams, Word, and PowerPoint, to improve productivity, boost creativity, and simplify workflows.

Who is using Copilot?

Technology Services is currently testing Copilot for Microsoft 365 with about 100 campus members representing units across campus. During the pilot, Technology Services will host training sessions, investigate how units are using Copilot for M365, sharing use cases with other pilot participants, and gathering overall feedback.

Learn more about Microsoft Copilot

Popular Copilot for M365 Applications

When your license is activated, the Copilot icon will appear in the toolbar of each application. There is no need to download or install Copilot.

Copilot in Outlook

Start emails quickly, generate a summary, and catch up on long emails easily.

Copilot in Teams

Have more effective meetings, easily catch up on chats, and find information faster.

Copilot in Word

Start a draft, add to an existing document, rewrite text, or generate a summary.

Copilot in Excel

Go deeper with data, identify insights, generate formulas, and more.

Copilot in PowerPoint

Create beautiful presentations, organize and summarize presentations, and more.

To learn more about the prompts you can use in a scenario, visit the Copilot Lab to try prompts in all Microsoft applications.

Copilot for M365 vs. Using Copilot Online

We understand you may have questions about the differences between Copilot on the web and Copilot for Microsoft 365. Copilot Chat is a separate product that comes with Microsoft’s A5 licensing. Copilot for Microsoft 365 is embedded into popular apps (Word, Excel, etc.) offering a more integrated experience with AI.

AI is the future and we must explore all of the use cases that can help our campus be more efficient, productive and creative. Through the Microsoft 365 Copilot Pilot beginning at the end of May, we will learn more about acceptable use cases in every unit and division.

— Ed Pierson, Chief Information Officer, Texas A&M University

Pilot Timeline

May 2024

Pilot Planning

Pilot begins - participants receive a pre-pilot survey.

June-August 2024

Optional Training

Optional training events for pilot participants. The project team gathers use cases and promotes the use of tools.

August 2024

Pilot Ends

The pilot ends, and the project team will share the final feedback survey.

What people are saying about Copilot

*These statistics were provided by research from the Microsoft Early Adoption Program. Texas A&M University was not included in the Microsoft Early Adoption Program.

70

said they were more productive.

77

said they didn't want to give up Copilot after using it.

64

said they spend less time processing email.

FAQs

The pilot group is now closed and participants were selected in coordination with IT and departmental leadership in each unit. Our goal was to include employees from all areas of campus including those who serve in roles of teaching, research, business operations, information technology roles, and innovation leaders across campus. Copilot for M365 licenses are available for purchase in Texas A&M’s departmental software store.

Responsible AI is artificial intelligence that is designed, developed, and deployed in a way that takes into account ethical, legal, and societal considerations. This includes considering the potential for unintended consequences, being transparent about how decisions are made, and respecting privacy. Responsible AI also requires building trust and ensuring accountability, as well as ensuring that individuals are not discriminated against due to their race, gender, or other protected characteristics. Learn more about using AI at Texas A&M University at Center for Teaching Excellence and the Division of Research website.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is built on Microsoft's comprehensive approach to security, compliance, and privacy. For more information about privacy, see Data, Privacy, and Security for Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365.

Copilot for M365 includes a suite of tools, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, etc. When using Copilot through these applications and logged in with your Texas A&M NetID and password, your data is protected through the same security and policies as our Office 365 environment (which protects HIPAA and FERPA data).

The applications that connect with Copilot for Microsoft 365 are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.

Once your license is activated, it may take up to five days for Copilot to show up in all your applications. You do not need to install or enable it on your device.

Additional FAQs are available in the Knowledge Base.

Resources

Copilot YouTube Playlist

Browse many short videos introducing you to Copilot, show you ways to use it across your Microsoft 365 applications, and provide tips and tricks to get started.

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Copilot for M365 Learning Path

This learning path created by Microsoft spans three key modules that will walk you through the basics of Copilot, showcase its versatility across applications, and offer advice on maximizing its potential.

Get started with Copilot for Microsoft 365

Copilot for M365 Latest Updates

Stay up-to-date with Copilot's latest features and improvements to achieve better, more personalized results.

Latest updates for Microsoft Copilot

Support

Technology Services is here to help. Email copilot-ms365@tamu.edu with questions/feedback regarding this pilot.

Copilot FAQs