What is Microsoft Copilot AI? How to use it effectively?

As artificial intelligence (AI) takes over the tech world, experimenting with AI software is becoming more and more appealing. But for those who have never tried it, getting started can be intimidating. Microsoft Copilot — Microsoft's AI assistant — can help users with a variety of tasks, from small administrative tasks to 'cleaning up' your entire inbox if you're overwhelmed with unread emails.

 

What is Copilot and why should you use it?

Whether you are new to AI and wondering where to start, or a seasoned AI 'expert', Copilot has you covered. This tool is not just a chatbot but can also create images, videos, and is integrated across multiple platforms: PC, Mac, laptop, and even phone via the Copilot app. What makes Microsoft Copilot different from traditional virtual assistants like Siri or Google Assistant is that it uses a large language model (LLM) trained on a huge amount of data, thereby creating natural, context-rich responses instead of just giving pre-defined answers.

Users can also try Microsoft 365 Copilot — a version designed to work directly with Microsoft 365 apps like Word, PowerPoint, or Excel — but note that it requires a separate subscription to both Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro. The latest version of Copilot is powered by GPT-5, OpenAI's next-generation AI model, which is also the foundation behind ChatGPT since its launch on August 7, 2025. Compared to the previous generation, GPT-5 offers faster reasoning, better ability to handle complex questions, and more creativity when creating documents or images.

 

How to register Copilot

Signing up for Copilot is simple: just visit the Copilot website, click the login button in the upper right corner, select your account type (personal or work/school), and follow the instructions to create a new account if you don't have one. If you want to upgrade to Copilot Pro, you can do so right on the homepage, with a free first month trial, after which it will automatically renew at $20/month.

How to write effective prompts

Once logged in, the Copilot interface offers a variety of options. Users can switch between Copilot mode (live chat) and Notebook mode (for working with long documents). You can upload documents or images for AI to analyze, or use the microphone for voice input. Copilot also allows you to choose a response style such as 'More creative', 'Balanced' or 'More accurate' to suit your needs. Plugins such as Instacart, Kayak or Klarna help AI better answer questions related to shopping, travel or price comparison.

 

To get the most out of Copilot, writing your 'prompt' — the command or request you give the AI — is key. For example, if you just ask 'write a poem about nature', the AI will generate a simple piece. But if you specify 'write a poem about nature in the style of an ancient Greek epic poem', the output will be different, rich in imagery and in the desired style. The more details you provide (tone, length, style, examples), the more time you'll save editing later.

Creating images with Copilot is similar to creating text: be as specific as possible and avoid emotional words like 'pretty' or 'cute'. For example, instead of saying 'draw a cute frog playing music', try 'draw a photorealistic frog in a top hat and tuxedo playing the violin in a packed concert hall'. Copilot will generate four options for you to choose from and refine until you get the result you want.

Account Management and Privacy

Managing your Copilot account is simple, too: you can delete individual chats or your entire activity history through the privacy dashboard. Microsoft allows users to delete all search and chat data with just a few taps in settings.

In short, Microsoft Copilot is not only a versatile AI tool but also an 'assistant' that can accompany you in both work and creativity. The key to exploiting its full potential is knowing how to set clear, detailed requirements and take advantage of the extensive features that Microsoft offers.