How to use Copilot to create a PowerPoint presentation in just minutes.

Recently, a user decided to use Copilot to create a PowerPoint presentation for their new part-time job: travel consulting. The goal was to design a presentation about the world's leading cruise lines, including information about these companies, their main areas of operation, and the types of travel they target.

Setting up and using Copilot in PowerPoint

Before you can start working with Copilot in PowerPoint, you need to confirm that it's running in the application. Log in to your Microsoft account and make sure you have the latest version of the application—this usually involves an active Microsoft 365 subscription . Once logged in, Copilot will appear directly on the ribbon, ready to use.

If you can't find Copilot in PowerPoint, you may need to update your software or your system may not meet Copilot's minimum requirements. Assuming your PC or Mac meets these requirements, you'll need a Microsoft 365 subscription and an active internet connection.

Try using Copilot in practice.

To begin using Copilot in Powerful, simply select the Create with Copilot option , as there's no need to switch between applications or copy and paste anything. Then, give the assistant a fairly detailed request: create a presentation about cruise companies. The presentation should cover each major company's target customer base, key factors to consider when choosing a cruise, and available onboard entertainment. If you don't want the presentation to be too long, set a limit of 12 slides. This way, the presentation won't be overly cumbersome or difficult to manage.

When working with Copilot, keep a clear plan in mind. By giving it a specific theme, the type of formatting you want to use, and specific content categories to focus on, you'll hopefully get a good quality first draft. Also, limit the number of slides to keep things concise. Overall, this approach will yield good results.

The results were really good, considering the speed of completion. Copilot organized the content very well and covered all the main points you wanted. However, there were a few issues. The theme Copilot chose didn't quite fit the main topic, detracting from the cruise experience. Also, some images didn't match the text on the slides.

These are minor issues that you can usually fix yourself, and they aren't major problems. But even with these small issues, the overall result is a complete document, ready for the presentation, which would have taken much more time to create from scratch.

It's noteworthy that the time to achieve this result was very short, which is a big plus. The content covers everything you want and is easy to follow. The main issues were minor edits. This started with choosing a new theme and continued with finding better images. It might be possible to slightly adjust the font order, so the presentation uses only one font for the title and one for the content, or shorten the text that Copilot chose if it tended to be verbose.

Why is Copilot just a starting point, not a destination?

Adjust the content to suit the target audience.

When you use a tool like Copilot to create a presentation, it can really speed up the process. But for a truly outstanding presentation, you need to add a human element.

First, think about the design. AI defaults to using safe, generic templates, so take a closer look at the fonts, colors, and layout. Make sure they match your brand and aren't too simplistic.

Next, consider who you're presenting to. A presentation for one group might not be effective for another, and vice versa. So, review each slide and think about what your audience needs to know.

Finally, ensure the story is coherent. AI is great at gathering information, but storytelling still requires a human element. Read your entire presentation as if your audience were reading it. Does each slide draw the audience to the next? Does it all lead to a clear, memorable conclusion?

Copilot provides a good starting point, but it's the final details that turn a good presentation into an excellent one. You need to ensure your presentation looks purposeful, not created from a pre-made template. In short: the audience needs to feel like you're speaking directly to them, and the story needs to be told coherently to keep them engaged. With just a little extra effort, you can transform a decent presentation into one that truly captivates your audience.

Copilot is a valuable assistant, not a replacement.

When creating presentations in PowerPoint, using Copilot can really speed up the process and create a presentation that looks great and is full of content. But to achieve the best results, it's best to think of Copilot as an intelligent partner you work with, not just a magic button that does everything for you.

Typically, artificial intelligence (AI) excels at handling simpler tasks, such as arranging slides and writing content, while you focus on creative ideas, understanding your audience, and telling stories in a unique way that the tool can support you with.

It's an almost unbeatable combination. You can focus on the parts of the presentation that require human intervention, and let Copilot handle the more routine tasks, like keeping things neat and tidy. By working together, you can create a presentation that is not only polished and professional but also engaging and effective.