Microsoft Copilot Explained for Your Charity

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There has recently been a massive spike in the use of AI-enhanced technology. Microsoft Copilot is the latest offering in this field. Born from Bing Chat Enterprise, Copilot has been meticulously reimagined and rebranded to serve as an indispensable tool. Microsoft has branded it your new “everyday AI companion.” 

Copilot offers real-time assistance to enhance the way you work in Microsoft Teams, Excel, Outlook, and more. Read on to see the benefits and functionality of Microsoft copilot explained.

AI Powered Charity Solutions

With Microsoft 365 Copilot, charities can delve into complex donor data. It can segment donors based on giving history and engagement levels with unprecedented ease and accuracy. This is just one example of how Copilot can boost productivity and create actionable insights.

Microsoft Copilot for Windows 11 users can navigate PC settings and functionalities with generative AI assistance. Meanwhile, Microsoft Security Copilot stands as a vigilant guard, offering advanced AI-driven security solutions to protect your digital environment.

Microsoft also offers Copilot for Service and Copilot for Sales, which are AI tools that assist with customer engagement. Each of these solutions is tailored to revolutionise customer interactions and sales strategies by utilising AI’s precision. These tools are game-changers in how we approach work, security, and customer relations in the digital age.

How Does Microsoft Copilot Work? 

The Microsoft Copilot system uses a powerful processing engine that relies on Large Language Models (LLMs). . This works alongside your data integrated within the Microsoft Graph. This combination enables Copilot to function as an intelligent chatbot, yet with context-aware capabilities. Copilot seamlessly integrates across Windows 11, Microsoft 365, and the Microsoft Edge web browser through Bing. 

Within Microsoft 365, Copilot distinguishes itself by its unobtrusive presence. It quietly resides in the sidebar of your applications, waiting for a click of the button to start. This design underscores Copilot’s role as a collaborative partner. It works alongside you, intuitively making suggestions and streamlining tasks across all Microsoft 365 applications.

Excel is a great example of how your organisation can use Microsoft Copilot. Within the platform, you can ask Copilot to delve into a spreadsheet, analysing trends between charity donations and expenses. 

This also helps you to gain insights that can drive decision-making and strategy. Similarly, in Microsoft Teams, Copilot becomes a meeting facilitator, summarising key points made by speakers in real time. This can eliminate the need for meeting minute-takers, saving you both time and resources. This is the essence of Microsoft Copilot, a tool designed not just to assist but to augment your capabilities, ensuring that operational efficiency is a reality.

microsoft copilot

Does Microsoft Copilot Use Chat GPT? 

Yes, Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 incorporates the advanced capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs), a sophisticated breed of artificial intelligence algorithms. These LLMs are the product of deep learning technologies that are trained using extensive data sets. 

The primary function is to comprehend, condense, predict, and generate content. Within LLMs are pre-trained models, such as Generative Pre-Trained Transformers (GPT), including the highly acclaimed GPT-4. Copilot leverages these capabilities to offer an AI experience that is intelligent, intuitive and seamlessly blends into the workflow of Microsoft 365 users.

How to Get Microsoft Copilot

Gaining access to Microsoft Copilot is straightforward for Microsoft users. Microsoft Copilot is available at no additional cost to Microsoft 365 users with an E3, E5, F3, A3, or A5 plan.

However, it’s important to note that currently, Microsoft Copilot is not available under a Microsoft Nonprofit licence. This means that charities, which often operate under such licences, are currently unable to access Copilot directly. 

Microsoft encourages charities to prepare by acquiring Microsoft 365 licences suitable for their needs and exploring Bing Chat Enterprise. This approach ensures that when Microsoft Copilot for nonprofits becomes available, organisations will be ready to integrate and leverage its powerful capabilities seamlessly into their operations.

microsoft copilot

How Much Will Microsoft Copilot Cost?

Navigating the cost landscape of Microsoft Copilot can vary. With Microsoft 365 for charities, the cost structure is different. As previously mentioned, Copilot is not yet available under a Nonprofit grant or Microsoft software licences for charities

For commercial users, accessing Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 requires a licence for either Microsoft 365 E3 or Microsoft 365 E5. Additionally, a specific licence for Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 is priced at $30 per user per month. 

It’s advisable to ‘watch this space’, especially for nonprofit organisations. Introducing nonprofit grants for Microsoft Copilot could significantly alter the cost dynamics, making it more accessible for a wider range of organisations. As Microsoft continues to evolve its AI offerings, there’s potential for more inclusive pricing models that could benefit a broader spectrum of users in the future.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Microsoft Copilot stands as a significant leap forward in AI-assisted productivity tools. For charities, Copilot offers lots of benefits, from analysing donor data to summarising key points in Microsoft Teams meetings. This means that Copilot can dramatically streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and save resources.

However, a notable caveat is its availability for nonprofits. Despite this, the landscape is evolving, and there’s hopeful anticipation for broader accessibility in the future. With advancements and potential changes in licensing, Copilot could soon become a game-changer for nonprofits, helping them to achieve more with their resources. 

Here at Qlic we are Microsoft Silver Cloud Services Partners, so you can rest assured that our solutions meet the highest security and compliance requirements for your business. If you would like a free consultation on how to make the most of Microsoft 365 for your charity, Get in touch with us using the link below.

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