What Can the New Bing Chat Do – [ with Example ]

Microsoft Copilot: What It Can Do and How It Works

In today’s fastpaced digital world, having a versatile AI assistant can make all the difference. Microsoft Copilot, integrated into Bing, Microsoft Edge, and various Microsoft 365 applications, is a generative AI tool designed to streamline tasks, spark creativity, and provide insightful answers.

Powered by advanced language models, Copilot combines web search capabilities, conversational intelligence, and productivity tools to assist users in diverse scenarios.

Whether you’re a student, professional, or curious explorer, Copilot offers a range of features to enhance your workflow and decisionmaking. In this blog post, we’ll dive into what Microsoft Copilot can do, with practical examples to showcase its potential.

1. Enhanced Web Search with Contextual Answers

Copilot transforms the traditional search experience by delivering concise, conversational answers rather than a list of links. It synthesizes information from the web, providing summaries and insights tailored to your query.

Example: Imagine you’re planning a weekend getaway and want to know the best hiking trails near Seattle. Instead of typing “hiking trails Seattle” and sifting through blog posts, you ask Copilot, “What are the top three hiking trails within an hour of Seattle for beginners?” Copilot might respond:

“Based on recent web data, here are three beginnerfriendly hiking trails near Seattle:
Discovery Park Loop Trail (20 minutes from downtown): A 2.8mile loop with ocean views and gentle terrain.

Rattlesnake Ledge (45 minutes away): A 4mile roundtrip hike with moderate elevation and a stunning viewpoint.
Twin Falls (50 minutes away): A 2.6mile trail with easy access to a scenic waterfall.”

It includes sources for credibility, so you can dig deeper if needed. This saves time and gives you actionable information upfront.

2. Content Creation and Drafting

Copilot excels at generating written content, from emails to blog posts, with customizable tone, format, and length. It’s a boon for professionals and creatives who need a starting point or polished drafts.

Example: Suppose you’re a small business owner drafting a promotional email. You prompt Copilot: “Write a 200word enthusiastic email announcing a 20% off sale for my coffee shop, targeting local customers.” Copilot might produce:

“Subject: ☕ Big Sale Alert: 20% Off Your Favorite Brews! ☕

Dear Coffee Lovers,

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from [Your Coffee Shop Name]! For one week only, enjoy 20% off your entire order—lattes, cappuccinos, pastries, and more. Whether you’re grabbing your morning pickmeup or catching up with friends over a cozy cup, now’s the perfect time to treat yourself. Our baristas are ready to craft your favorites with love, right here in [Your City]. Pop by between [dates] and mention this email to claim your discount. Can’t wait to see you!

Warmly,
[Your Name]”

You can tweak the tone to be more formal or playful, making it a versatile tool for communication.

3. Image Creation and Visual Search

Copilot’s integration with tools like Image Creator (powered by DALLE) allows it to generate images from text prompts or analyze uploaded visuals. This is ideal for designers, marketers, or anyone needing custom visuals.

Example: You’re a teacher creating a science presentation and need a unique image. You prompt Copilot: “Generate an image of a solar system with colorful planets in a cartoon style.” Copilot produces a vibrant illustration you can download and use.

Alternatively, if you upload a photo of a plant and ask, “What type of plant is this?” Copilot might identify it as a “monstera deliciosa” and provide care tips, drawing from webbased visual search data.

4. Productivity Boost in Microsoft 365

For Microsoft 365 users, Copilot embeds AI assistance into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, automating repetitive tasks and enhancing collaboration.

Example: You’re preparing a PowerPoint for a team meeting. In PowerPoint, you ask Copilot to “suggest a 5slide structure for a project update presentation.” It might propose:

1. Title Slide: Project name and date.
2. Overview: Key objectives and timeline.
3. Progress Update: Milestones achieved.
4. Challenges: Current obstacles and solutions.
5. Next Steps: Action items and deadlines.

Copilot could even pull data from a linked Excel sheet to populate charts, saving you manual effort. In Outlook, you might say, “Summarize my inbox from today,” and Copilot lists key emails with action points.

5. Problem Solving and Learning Support

Copilot is a virtual tutor for students or anyone tackling complex topics. It can explain concepts, solve problems, or generate study aids.

Example: A high school student struggling with algebra might ask, “Explain how to solve 2x + 5 = 15 stepbystep.” Copilot could respond:

It might also offer a practice problem like “Try solving 3x 4 = 8.” This clarity helps demystify tough subjects.

6. Coding and Technical Assistance

Developers can lean on Copilot for code suggestions, debugging, or learning new programming concepts, especially in environments like Visual Studio.

Example: You’re coding a simple Python script and ask Copilot, “Write a Python function to calculate the factorial of a number.”

If you hit a bug, you could share the error message, and Copilot might suggest fixes, like adjusting indentation or handling edge cases.

7. Personalized Recommendations and Planning

Copilot can act as a personal assistant, offering tailored suggestions for travel, shopping, or daily planning based on your preferences and web data.

Example: You’re organizing a family vacation and ask, “Plan a 3day itinerary for Paris in June for a family with two kids under 10.” Copilot might suggest:

Day 1: Morning at the Louvre (kidfriendly audio tours), lunch at a nearby café, afternoon at Jardin des Tuileries with a playground.
Day 2: Eiffel Tower visit (skiptheline tickets recommended), picnic at Champ de Mars, evening Seine River cruise.
Day 3: Explore Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (interactive exhibits for kids), lunch at a creperie, relax at Parc de la Villette.

It could link to booking sites or warn about peak crowd times, making planning smoother.

8. Conversational Styles for Flexibility

Copilot offers modes like Creative, Balanced, and Precise, letting you control the tone and depth of responses. Creative mode is great for brainstorming, while Precise sticks to facts.

Example: You’re brainstorming a novel and ask in Creative mode, “Give me ideas for a scifi story set on Mars.” Copilot might suggest:

A colony discovers an ancient alien AI buried under the surface, sparking a moral debate about activating it.
A lone rover technician stumbles across a hidden water source, triggering a corporate conspiracy.
Twins born on Mars develop telepathic abilities, threatening Earth’s control over the colony.

Switch to Precise mode for “What’s the gravity on Mars?” and get: “Mars’ gravity is about 3.71 m/s², roughly 38% of Earth’s.”

9. RealTime Insights and Summaries

Copilot can summarize articles, videos, or documents, pulling key points from web sources or uploaded files.

Example: You find a lengthy article on renewable energy trends but lack time to read it. You paste the URL into Copilot and ask, “Summarize this article in 100 words.” Copilot might output:

“The article discusses 2023 renewable energy trends, highlighting solar and wind as dominant sources due to cost declines. Global investments hit $500 billion, with China and Europe leading. Battery storage advancements are easing grid reliability concerns, while green hydrogen shows promise for heavy industry.

Policy support, like tax incentives, drives adoption, but supply chain issues for rare minerals persist. The article predicts renewables will supply 35% of global electricity by 2030, urging faster innovation to meet climate goals.”

This keeps you informed without wading through dense text.

Why Copilot Stands Out

Unlike traditional search engines, Copilot’s strength lies in its ability to understand context, maintain conversation flow, and integrate with Microsoft’s ecosystem. Its citations ensure transparency, and commercial data protection (for eligible users) adds security for professional use.

However, it’s not perfect—occasional inaccuracies or outdated web data can slip through, so critical thinking remains key. Compared to other AI tools, Copilot’s seamless blending of search, productivity, and creativity makes it a Swiss Army knife for modern tasks.

Getting Started with Copilot

You can access Copilot for free via Bing, Edge, or the Copilot mobile app. For enhanced features, Copilot Pro ($20/month) offers priority access and Microsoft 365 integration.

Simply visit copilot.microsoft.com, sign in with a Microsoft account, and start exploring. Try prompts like “Write a poem about autumn,” “Compare two laptops under $1,000,” or “Explain quantum physics simply” to see its range.

Final Thoughts

Microsoft Copilot is more than a chatbot—it’s a dynamic tool that adapts to your needs, whether you’re solving equations, designing visuals, or planning your next adventure.

Its ability to combine AI driven insights with practical applications sets it apart in a crowded field. As generative AI evolves, Copilot’s potential will only grow, making it an exciting companion for work and life. So, why not give it a spin? Ask it something challenging, and watch it deliver.

Abhishek Tiwari

I am an extensive connoisseur of windows problem-solving techniques and everyday tech tips and tricks.