In September 2023, Microsoft announced its new AI assistant, Copilot. Previously, the company introduced Bing AI, but it was limited to working within the Edge browser. With the release of Copilot, users gained access to a more versatile platform integrated into the Windows operating system and other Microsoft services.
On the internet, Copilot is often referred to as an analog of ChatGPT, highlighting its advantages. Firstly, it is based on the latest version of the neural network from OpenAI. Secondly, while access to such a model in ChatGPT costs $20, in Microsoft Copilot, it is offered for free.
Copilot can perform many tasks that users have come to love in ChatGPT, including searching for up-to-date information on the internet. However, this does not mean their capabilities are identical: although both services use a common data source, the processing occurs differently. In this article, we will explore how to access Copilot and what features it offers.
The Copilot neural network is accessible via the Microsoft website, apps for iOS and Android, and is integrated into Windows and the Microsoft Edge browser.
The first step is to register an account. Without this, you can only send five messages in one session, after which Copilot will forget the context of the conversation. After registration, the limit increases to 30 messages in a chain, and you gain the ability to generate images with Dall-E 3 and save chat history.
Account Registration Instructions:
- Open the Microsoft website and click on the profile icon in the top right corner.
- A login form will appear. Click Create one.
- Enter your email address. Ensure the domain is .com, not .ru. If you don’t have a suitable address, click Get a new email address to create a new email in Outlook.
- Provide your details: name, surname, and date of birth. The region is automatically determined based on the your country.
Windows 10 and 11: In the latest versions of the system, the Copilot icon is located on the taskbar. The chatbot interface should appear. If it doesn’t work, try resetting the Edge browser settings.
iOS and Android: The Microsoft Copilot apps appeared in the App Store and Google Play at the end of 2023. After installation, log in to Microsoft account.
Via Any Browser: You can use Copilot on the official website.
Via Microsoft Edge: The browser has a dedicated button to call Copilot. This version includes a feature unavailable on other platforms: the ability to summarize an open website in one click. In other browsers, you’ll need to send the bot a link. On Windows computers, Edge is pre-installed; on macOS, it needs to be downloaded from the Microsoft website.
The principles of operation are platform-independent. The core capabilities of all versions are identical. In Windows 11 and the Edge browser, new features are added: besides text generation, you can access system functions. Below, we’ll explore the main capabilities.
The Copilot interface is simple and intuitive. The main page displays query prompts and a text input box. A unique feature of the interface is the “Conversation Style” section. You can choose one of three modes: more creative, more precise, or balanced.
To use the GPT-4 version, select the “more creative” or “more precise” mode. The “more balanced” mode runs on GPT-3.5 but is faster.
In mobile apps, everything is simplified: instead of “Conversation Style,” there’s a slider for “Use GPT-4.”
However, there’s a catch: under high load, the model version may automatically downgrade from GPT-4 to GPT-3.5. This happens if you’re using Copilot for free. In the mobile version, the slider disappears, and in the web version, there are no notifications. But you can still check which version you’re using: simply ask Copilot to share the latest news. GPT-3.5 doesn’t have internet access and won’t be able to do this, while GPT-4 will handle it.
Text Generation. If you’ve already used text-based neural networks, Copilot won’t surprise you. It writes essays, creates to-do lists, and explains complex terms. The neural network generates text of the required length on a given topic and can make edits if needed.
If you’re logged into your account, you can send up to 30 messages in one session, and Copilot will retain the conversation context. After reaching the limit, you’ll need to start a new chat.
Previously, Copilot was part of the Bing search engine, so it attaches additional links with information sources to each response. For example, if you ask it to come up with a joke about penguins, the bot will not only provide its version but also add several links to joke collections.
Image Generation. Copilot creates images using Dall-E 3 — a neural network from OpenAI that allows generating images in various styles. To create an image, start your query with the phrase “make an image” or “draw” and describe what you want. The neural network will convert the text into a prompt for Dall-E 3, generate the image, and send it in the chat.
You can refine the image, for example, by adding an element or changing the style. This works similarly to the image generator in ChatGPT.
Under each generated image, the prompt is displayed in English. If precise results are important, it’s better to write queries in English.
There’s a limit on image generation with Dall-E 3 — 15 priority requests per day. After that, the neural network will continue working, but the waiting time will increase.
In addition to generating text and images, Copilot can control your computer, create summaries, summarize videos, and much more. Here are some additional capabilities:
- Computer Control. The assistant is integrated into Windows, allowing you to execute system commands: enabling dark mode, launching apps, changing wallpapers, and more.
- Writing and Debugging Code. The neural network can help write programs, create bots, or check code for errors.
- Recipe Suggestions. You can ask it to create a meal plan or suggest recipes based on ingredients you have at home.
- Character Imitation. Copilot can mimic the communication style of famous characters like Mickey Mouse or James Bond.
In January 2024, Microsoft launched the paid Copilot Pro subscription for $20 per month. The subscription provides access to GPT-4 Turbo, the latest version of the OpenAI model, which has broader knowledge and can process more information at once.
Additionally, the subscription ensures constant access to GPT-4 and integrates Copilot into Microsoft 365 office apps like Outlook and PowerPoint. The neural network doesn’t just generate recommendations but also applies them directly to the document.
Microsoft Copilot offers free access to GPT-4 and Dall-E 3, which in ChatGPT are only available via subscription. Copilot can perform the same tasks as ChatGPT, including writing texts and generating code. The free version allows generating up to 15 images per day with priority, and with the prompt generation feature, you don’t need to worry — the neural network will find the right formulations itself.
Copilot can also create summaries of articles and YouTube video recaps, which the free version of ChatGPT cannot do. The main advantage of Pro is integration with Microsoft 365 and more stable access to GPT-4.
