Maria Diaz/ZDNET
Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT last fall, Microsoft has become one of the company’s biggest investors. However, instead of investing in the popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Microsoft leveraged these investments into superpowering its own search engine, Bing, with generative AI. Now, the tech giant has given its AI-powered Bing a new name and a new site, Copilot.
Instead of being a runner-up search engine to the more popular Google, Bing is now powering a new version of Microsoft Copilot — though the option to use the traditional Bing search format remains. Users can go to Copilot and ask questions, upload images, and request AI-generated images, just like they can with ChatGPT.
Often referred to as “the new Bing” or “Bing Chat,” the new Copilot differs greatly from its more popular competitor, ChatGPT. We’ll explore how to use Copilot and the different ways you can access it below.
How to use Microsoft Copilot
What you’ll need: Getting started with Copilot requires an account to access the chat feature. Users can use a Microsoft account or an Entra ID. For the time being, Copilot is only available for Microsoft Edge and Chrome browsers on Windows and Mac OS.
To get started, visit the Copilot.Microsoft.com website and log in with your Microsoft account or Entra ID. Once you log in, you can start asking Microsoft Copilot your questions. Enter your prompts into the text area at the bottom of the screen and submit them to Copilot.
The Microsoft Copilot bot differs slightly from ChatGPT, the most popular AI chatbot. While you enter prompts in the conversations in a similar way, the format of the answers, the conversational style, and the user interface are all different.
Here’s a breakdown to help you get to know the new Microsoft Copilot window:
Text area: The bottom of the screen has a text area where you can enter your prompts and questions for Copilot.
Add an image: Microsoft lets users upload a photo for Copilot to process using AI, much like Google Lens and GPT-4. Clicking on this button lets you add an image.
Microphone: If you’d rather use your device’s microphone instead of your keyboard to give Copilot your prompts, you can click on the microphone in the text area to talk to the AI chatbot.
New topic: When you click on New topic, Copilot will delete the previous conversation and prompt you to move on to a new one.
Sources: Copilot performs as a conversational AI-powered search engine and though it does not give you answers in a list format as a search engine would, it does gather most of its responses from the web, thanks to Bing. When you get a reply to a prompt, Copilot will list any sources and links below the message bubble.
Suggested follow-up questions: After you get a response from Microsoft Copilot, it will generate suggestions for different follow-up questions that you can use.
Conversation style: Microsoft Copilot is programmed to provide a more human-like answer to a query than a search engine, so it offers three formats for responses — more creative, more balanced, and more precise. Each one of these formats is self-descriptive: choosing “more creative” will give you answers that are original and imaginative, and it can also generate images; “more balanced” is similar in tone to ChatGPT, an informative and friendly chat with a human-like answer; and “more precise” will render concise and straightforward responses.
Prompt counter: When Copilot responds to a query within a conversation, you’ll see a number that helps you keep count of how many responses you’ve received. There’s a limit of 30 replies per conversation.
Like, dislike, copy, and export buttons: When scanning the screen, you’ll likely notice these buttons under each reply from Microsoft Copilot.
FAQs
What can Microsoft Copilot do?
Like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot can generate text conversationally, compose essays, create letters, summarize content, write code, and answer complex questions. But unlike the free version of ChatGPT, Copilot has internet access, allowing it to provide up-to-date responses on current events.
Aside from internet access, Copilot can also use AI to generate images within the chat window. I tested this feature and it’s still buggy when used in the redesigned chat window. Typically, all you have to do is ask it to create an image and describe what features you’d like the photo to have, and it’ll generate an image right away. It can also process images you upload in the chat to tell you information about them, like identifying plant species.
How can I access Microsoft Copilot?
The Microsoft Copilot AI chatbot is accessible through the Copilot.Microsoft.com website on the Chrome and Edge browsers in Windows or MacOS. Users need a Microsoft account or Entra ID to log in.
Can you use the new Microsoft Copilot on mobile?
The Microsoft Copilot chatbot is still accessible through the Bing mobile app and you can start a conversation on web and scan a QR code to continue it on the mobile app.
Does Microsoft Copilot use ChatGPT?
Copilot does not use ChatGPT, but it does use GPT-4 to have conversations with its users.
Does Microsoft Copilot give wrong answers?
Just like ChatGPT and other large language models, the new Copilot is prone to giving out misinformation.
Is Microsoft Copilot available now?
The Bing Chat platform was only available on a waitlist basis since its launch earlier this year. Microsoft granted widespread access to all Microsoft Edge users some time ago, with or without a valid account. Microsoft Copilot is available on a Preview basis, so users can try it now.
How is Microsoft Copilot different from a search engine?
Compared to a search engine, the biggest difference between Copilot and other AI chatbots is the conversational tone in rendering search results, thanks to the large language model operating behind the scenes. Intelligently formatting search results into an answer to a…
