Have you ever considered letting artificial intelligence (AI) manage parts of your workday or even handle those tedious tasks we humans really don't want to do? Microsoft Copilot, a generative AI powerhouse snugly integrated into Windows 11 and Microsoft's Office Suite, promises to make your life easier. And as much as the idea of trusting AI might sound like throwing a robot into the deep end of your daily chaos, Copilot has some genuinely game-changing features that prove helpful (and not entirely annoying). Let’s dive into the six Copilot features that are actually worth your time.
This isn’t just aesthetic or “fun.” Using a natural and relatable voice can make managing Copilot’s capabilities feel more fluid, whether you're dictating emails or asking it to rewrite a report (with no eye-rolls included). The voice options are free, and the cherry on top? You can even adjust how fast (or slow) it speaks, saving you from yelling, “Can you just repeat that?!”
Here’s how it works: Copilot observes the kinds of topics you care about (via searches, tasks, and interactions) and builds a custom feed of stories it updates twice a day—once in the morning and again in the evening. It’s like having your personal digital newspaper, minus the ink smudge on your coffee cup. Over time, Copilot gets smarter, improving its selections based on what you approve or recycle-bin into oblivion. The automation truly shines when it trims away irrelevant chatter and leaves you focused on the stuff that matters.
For students, researchers, writers, or anyone tasked with digging up gold nuggets of information in a sea of data, Copilot simplifies things by anticipating what you're probably looking for next. Best of all, this accelerates productivity as you refine its suggestions by marking them as helpful (or utter misses). The more you teach it, the better it gets.
Let’s not overlook its rewriting tool, either. Need to tweak tone or make your message more concise? Simply ask Copilot to rewrite sections of your text for easier readability. However, keep in mind, more advanced features like using Copilot in Office apps—which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel—require a $30 monthly Microsoft 365 plan. (It’s a bummer, but for many, the productivity boost is justified.)
Want to envision 1920s New York City for a presentation or mock up a futuristic car design for a pitch? Done. But here’s the rub: while the AI is remarkably fast, don’t trust it for historical accuracy or fine details. Still, it’s a great supplement when “close enough” works. Note that any AI-generated images may need a footnote to clarify their non-authentic origins—just in case someone raises an eyebrow.
For professionals, this function could mean speeding through hundreds of daily emails or briefing documents to extract the core message. However, while free summarization can handle smaller snippets, more detailed breakdowns benefit from a subscription within Microsoft 365. And, fair warning, don’t treat these summaries as final—Copilot glosses over nuance, so double-check if you need precise details.
Sure, AI has its quirks. Copilot’s suggestions won’t always hit the mark, and large language models like this aren’t foolproof. However, users who invest time in steering Copilot to align with their workflow will find themselves breezing through mundane and complex tasks alike.
So, is it time to let AI handle more of your day? Probably. Just keep your own creativity and critical eye engaged to ensure it supports productivity with zero risk of skynet-ing your agenda.
Got questions or want to share your experiences with Microsoft Copilot? Let us know on the forum below!
Source: Pocket-lint 6 Copilot features that are actually useful and don't totally suck
1. Picking Your AI’s Personality: Customize Copilot’s Voice
Forget the robotic, stilted tones you’ve tolerated from assistants like Siri or Alexa. Microsoft Copilot takes user experience further by offering customizable voice options that actually sound human. Whether you’d like a calm and soothing "Grove" voice or a more enthusiastic companion like "Wave," you have a choice of four voices — Canyon, Grove, Wave, and Meadow.This isn’t just aesthetic or “fun.” Using a natural and relatable voice can make managing Copilot’s capabilities feel more fluid, whether you're dictating emails or asking it to rewrite a report (with no eye-rolls included). The voice options are free, and the cherry on top? You can even adjust how fast (or slow) it speaks, saving you from yelling, “Can you just repeat that?!”
2. A News Curator Right at Your Service
News junkies, rejoice. Microsoft Copilot doesn’t just generate answers; it scopes out relevant stories and news curated around your browsing habits or interests. Think of it as an AI-powered Flipboard living inside your OS.Here’s how it works: Copilot observes the kinds of topics you care about (via searches, tasks, and interactions) and builds a custom feed of stories it updates twice a day—once in the morning and again in the evening. It’s like having your personal digital newspaper, minus the ink smudge on your coffee cup. Over time, Copilot gets smarter, improving its selections based on what you approve or recycle-bin into oblivion. The automation truly shines when it trims away irrelevant chatter and leaves you focused on the stuff that matters.
3. Smarter Brainstorming with Research Topics
Copilot isn’t just a passive assistant; it also comes in clutch when you need to dig deeper into a subject. Imagine asking Copilot something like, “Who were the top innovators of the 1990s?” and not only getting an answer but also receiving suggestions for related topics you hadn’t considered—like how the invention of Wi-Fi reshaped personal computing in that era.For students, researchers, writers, or anyone tasked with digging up gold nuggets of information in a sea of data, Copilot simplifies things by anticipating what you're probably looking for next. Best of all, this accelerates productivity as you refine its suggestions by marking them as helpful (or utter misses). The more you teach it, the better it gets.
4. Bringing AI Muscle to Microsoft Word
If you’re glued to Microsoft Word for school, work, or your passionate side hustle, Copilot acts like an editor, designer, and ideation buddy rolled into one. For example, say you’re working on a dense project proposal and want to spice things up visually. Highlight text and summon Copilot to “visualize this as a table.” Bam! Your lifeless data morphs into an attractively formatted table, breaking the monotony of walls of text in seconds.Let’s not overlook its rewriting tool, either. Need to tweak tone or make your message more concise? Simply ask Copilot to rewrite sections of your text for easier readability. However, keep in mind, more advanced features like using Copilot in Office apps—which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel—require a $30 monthly Microsoft 365 plan. (It’s a bummer, but for many, the productivity boost is justified.)
5. Turning Abstracts Into Imagery
Ever get stuck trying to find the perfect image for a PowerPoint deck or a report? Copilot’s image-generation feature is for those who hate scrolling endlessly through Google’s image library or, worse, licensing stock photos. Just type your prompt into Copilot, and voilà, an AI-generated visual appears.Want to envision 1920s New York City for a presentation or mock up a futuristic car design for a pitch? Done. But here’s the rub: while the AI is remarkably fast, don’t trust it for historical accuracy or fine details. Still, it’s a great supplement when “close enough” works. Note that any AI-generated images may need a footnote to clarify their non-authentic origins—just in case someone raises an eyebrow.
6. Summarizing: Text Walls, Meet Cliff Notes
Summarizing might be one of Copilot’s most universally appreciated talents. Better still, you can use Copilot’s summarizing capabilities free on Windows or within Word. Whether it’s a 50-page meeting agenda or a novel you procrastinated reading for your book club, Copilot can condense it down to the essentials.For professionals, this function could mean speeding through hundreds of daily emails or briefing documents to extract the core message. However, while free summarization can handle smaller snippets, more detailed breakdowns benefit from a subscription within Microsoft 365. And, fair warning, don’t treat these summaries as final—Copilot glosses over nuance, so double-check if you need precise details.
The Bigger Picture: Why Copilot Deserves a Chance
Microsoft Copilot goes beyond simple task automation—it personalizes the experience, learns your preferences, and works in stride with Office apps you likely already depend on. Think of it like hiring a superfast-but-still-learning apprentice who somehow costs peanuts compared to an actual assistant.Sure, AI has its quirks. Copilot’s suggestions won’t always hit the mark, and large language models like this aren’t foolproof. However, users who invest time in steering Copilot to align with their workflow will find themselves breezing through mundane and complex tasks alike.
So, is it time to let AI handle more of your day? Probably. Just keep your own creativity and critical eye engaged to ensure it supports productivity with zero risk of skynet-ing your agenda.
Got questions or want to share your experiences with Microsoft Copilot? Let us know on the forum below!
Source: Pocket-lint 6 Copilot features that are actually useful and don't totally suck
