Getting started with Copilot
Learning Pathway:
AI 201: Copilot in Everyday Tasks
3 August 2026
If you're new to Copilot, you don't need to learn everything at once. Here's 5 features to get you started.
1. Connect your work data in Copilot
☑️ With WorkIQ, Copilot uses your Microsoft 365 work context (emails, chats, meetings, people, files, etc.) when answering your prompt.
Here are some prompts to try:
What meetings do I have for this week?
Find email from [person] about [topic].
Keep me updated on [project].
☑️ For example, Copilot can show you upcoming meetings, based on your Outlook Calendar.
2. Attach documents to analyse
☑️ Add files directly into Copilot using the '+' menu. This is useful when you want Copilot to work directly from a specific docuemnt, rather than searching broadly.
Example prompts:
Summarise this document in five points.
Compare these two reports and highlight the differences.
Extract the key risks and open issues from these notes.
3. Choose the model that fits the task
☑️ Copilot lets you choose between OpenAI GPT and Claude Opus. It also shows different response modes such as quicker responses or deeper reasoning.
This gives you some flexibility depending on the task:
Use a quicker response for simple questions.
Use deeper reasoning for more complex work.
Use automatic selection when you are not sure which model is best.
4. Search the web
☑️Copilot is able to use information from the internet to generate answers, useful when you need up-to-date information.
Example prompts:
What is the latest announcement from [agency] on [topic]?
Summarise recent developments on [topic] from web sources.
What are the latest guidelines on [subject] according to web sources?
5. Use specialised agents for deeper work
☑️ Use Researcher from the '+' menu to perform a multi-step research process, pulling together information from both your work data and web sources.
Example prompts:
Research [topic] across both local and international sources. Summarise key trends, risks, opportunities, and implications for decision-makers.
Create a 2-page executive briefing on [issue/project]. Include background, current state, options analysis, recommendations, implementation considerations, and cited sources.
☑️ Use Analyst from the '+' menu for structured data work. It can perform complex analysis and generate visualisations from your data.
Example prompts:
Analyse the attached dataset and identify key trends, anomalies and insights.
Review data from [survey/training/programme]. Segment the results, identify the strongest and weakest performing areas, and suggest opportunities for improvement.
Now it's your turn to try!
Open Microsoft 365 Copilot and try one of the example prompts in this guide. Experiment with different features depending on your task:
Use WorkIQ to search across your Microsoft 365 work content
Attach documents when you want Copilot to focus on a specific file.
Choose a model that matches the level of reasoning you need.
Search the web for current information.
Use Researcher and Analyst when your task requires deeper research or data analysis.
The best way to learn Copilot is to use it in your everyday work. Start with a simple task, review the response, and refine your prompt until you get the result you need.
⏭️Next Guide (2 of 7): Reply Outlook Emails with Copilot
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