With the rise of artificial intelligence, our work lives have become more efficient and streamlined. Microsoft has their solution, and other competitors have theirs. Even within the Microsoft ecosystem, we’re hearing two different solutions: Microsoft Copilot, and Copilot Agents. They sound like the same thing, but there’s some big differences. Here’s what you need to know, and when to use each one.
What is Microsoft Copilot for M365?
Microsoft Copilot for M365 is the AI-powered assistant integrated into Microsoft 365 applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. It’s designed to help you with tasks such as drafting documents, analyzing data, creating slide decks and summarizing meetings. Copilot for M365 leverages AI to understand context, provide suggestions, and automate repetitive tasks, making your work life easier and more productive.
One of the main features of Microsoft Copilot is its ability to integrate seamlessly with Microsoft 365. This means you can access Copilot’s assistance directly within the apps you use every day. Whether you’re drafting an email in Outlook or creating a report in Excel, Microsoft Copilot is there to lend a helping hand. It’s all secured by your existing M365 governance controls so that your data is protected the way you design it to be.
What are Copilot Agents?
Copilot agents are Copilot-powere
d assistants that can be integrated into various applications and platforms, not just M365 applications. Agents are designed to assist users with specific tasks, much like Microsoft Copilot, but they can be found in a wider range of applications beyond Microsoft 365. Copilot agents work by understanding the user’s intent, providing relevant suggestions, and automating tasks to improve efficiency. Examples of Copilot agents include virtual assistants in customer service applications, AI chatbots on websites, and intelligent agents in software development tools. These agents can help with tasks such as answering customer queries, providing technical support, and even writing code.
Copilot Agents vs Microsoft Copilot
Both Copilot agents and Microsoft Copilot are designed to assist users with tasks and improve productivity. There are some key differences between the two, though.
Similarities
- Both leverage AI to understand context and provide relevant suggestions.
- Both aim to automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.
- Both can be integrated into various applications to assist users.
Differences
- Copilot for M365 is specifically designed for Microsoft 365 applications, while Copilot agents can be found in a wider range of applications. Those can include Slack, websites, and Facebook.
- Copilot for M365 offers seamless integration within Microsoft 365, whereas Copilot agents may require additional setup and customization.
- Copilot for M365 is basically ready to go out-of-the-box, while Copilot agents may involve some amount of custom development.
- Copilot agents can be tailored to specific industries and use cases, while Microsoft Copilot is more general-purpose within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
- Copilot for M365 leverages Microsoft Graph and any Graph connectors you have deployed as knowledge sources. It can also use web grounding if desired.
- Copilot agents can use the same knowledge, or different sources with almost no limitation. Because you design agents the way you need, knowledge and actions leveraged by the agent makes sure the agent does exactly what you need it to do.
Use Cases
- Copilot for M365 is ideal for users who work extensively with Microsoft 365 applications and need general assistance with tasks like document creation, data analysis, and communication management.
- Copilot agents are intended for businesses and industries that require more specialized AI assistance, such as customer service, technical support, and software development. Any time you think that you need more than a “general assistant”, you should think of agents.
- With agents, you can choose the LLM (GPT-4, Llama, Claude, etc) and even change the orchestrator for custom AI behavior.
Conclusion
Both Copilot agents and Microsoft 365 Copilot are powerful AI tools that can really enhance your productivity and efficiency. While Microsoft Copilot is tailored for Microsoft 365 applications, agents offer a broader range of applications and use cases. Customers typically start with M365 Copilot and move onto more specialized agents as they find the AI responses lacking for some tasks. As AI continues to evolve, we can expect even more innovative solutions to help us work smarter, not harder.
So whether you’re drafting a report in Word or getting help from a virtual assistant on a website, AI-powered tools like agents and Copilot for M365 are here to make your life easier.
