Since the launch of ChatGPT by OpenAI in the fall of 2022, Microsoft has become one of the largest investors in the company. Microsoft has utilized these investments to enhance its own search engine, Bing, with generative AI technology, providing users with a new and improved search experience. Additionally, Microsoft has developed a competitive AI chatbot called Microsoft Copilot, which can be accessed through a standalone site or through Bing. Users can ask questions, upload images, and request AI-generated images with Microsoft Copilot, similar to ChatGPT, but with some differences. To make the most of Microsoft Copilot, users can visit Copilot.Microsoft.com or download the app, enter prompts into the text area, and submit them to Copilot. Users can ask unlimited questions per day without signing in, but signing in with a Microsoft or Github account allows for longer conversations and more complex capabilities. Microsoft Copilot offers different conversation-style options, such as creative, balanced, and precise, depending on user preferences. Users can also access Copilot’s Enterprise arm, Work, which integrates with Microsoft 365 for productivity assistance. Microsoft Copilot differs from ChatGPT in terms of response format, conversational style, and user interface. It can generate text conversationally, compose essays, create letters, summarize content, write code, and answer complex questions. The chatbot also has internet access to provide up-to-date responses on current events. Microsoft Copilot can generate images and process uploaded images within the chat window. The chatbot can provide suggestions for follow-up questions and list sources and links for responses. Users can access Microsoft Copilot through Copilot.Microsoft.com or Bing with a Microsoft account or Entra ID. The chatbot is also accessible through the Bing mobile app with the ability to continue conversations on mobile. Microsoft Copilot uses a model from OpenAI’s GPT-4 architecture, not ChatGPT, for its functions. Like other large language models, Microsoft Copilot may provide misinformation or nonsensical answers, so users should exercise caution when interacting with AI chatbots. The conversational tone and search result formatting of Microsoft Copilot distinguish it from traditional search engines, offering a more interactive and user-friendly experience. Microsoft also offers the Bing Image Creator tool, powered by DALL-E from OpenAI, within Copilot for image generation.
