3 minute read
Microsoft’s new office AI is poised to change the way we work
TEXT: SAMI J. ANTEROINEN
Copilot for Microsoft 365 is the perfect wingman for today’s office warrior. Available for organizations of all sizes – Copilot is an embedded AI companion across Microsoft 365 products such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and more.
It’s a AI assistant that we put inside our products,” explains Kalle Saarikannas, Business Group Lead, Modern Workplace, at Microsoft Finland.
Microsoft introduced Copilot in order to reduce digital debt and increase productivity, so that people can focus on the work that is uniquely human. At this point, of course, everybody is asking the same question: will generative AI truly transform work as we know it? The early results are in – and they do suggest that there’s something big brewing out there.
Microsoft’s Work Trend Index Special Report, published in November 2023, tracks the experiences of early users since March. 70% of Copilot users said they were more productive, and 68% said the AI improved the quality of their work. Overall, users were 29% faster in a series of tasks (searching, writing, and summarizing).
AI assistant to the rescue
But what does all this mean in practice? Saarikannas gives an example: if you are juggling between two Teams meetings at the same time, you can show up late for one, and Copilot will present you with a handy summary of what you missed.
“That way, you’ll get up to speed in no time without needing to disturb others in the meeting.”
According to Work Trend Index, users were able to get caught up on a missed meeting nearly four times faster.
Almost two out of three (64%) of users said that Copilot helps them spend less time processing email. Copilot will also keep track of the urgency of your e-mails.
“Coming back from your summer holiday, for example, you can ask Copilot, whose e-mail should I respond to first,” Saarikannas offers a sure-fire life-saver tip.
Never gonna give you up
According to Work Trend Index, Copilot makes people more productive and creative while saving time – right out of the gate. And here’s probably the most telling take-away from the report: 77% of early users said they don’t want to go back to working without it.
Saarikannas has been using Copilot for Microsoft 365 for several months now. Has the AI companion charmed him as well?
“In the beginning, it took me some time to figure out how I get the most out of Copilot. But when I got the hang of it – now, it would be really difficult for me to give it up,” he says.
And here’s the exciting part: this is all just the beginning. As use of generative AI at work spreads, personal productivity is elevated –along with the capability of the entire organization. Copilot will help each employee to gain the skills to write, design, code, analyze data...
“For the organization, Copilot can introduce completely new capabilities, boosting both productivity and employee experience at the workplace." |
