Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot arrived on February 7, 2023, initially under the name Bing Chat to replace the discontinued Cortana virtual assistant. This generative artificial intelligence platform leverages large language models originally developed by OpenAI and fine-tuned using Microsoft's Prometheus architecture. Unlike traditional software tools requiring complex setup, Copilot integrates directly into web browsers, specifically Microsoft Edge, and the Windows operating system to draft emails, summarize meetings, and generate code.

The service operates on a freemium model that grants free users access to core features while reserving advanced capabilities like custom chatbot creation for paid Microsoft 365 subscribers. By January 2025, the company released a specialized app targeting business and education sectors with workflows tailored for professional tasks rather than casual conversation. The platform also incorporates Image Creator technology to turn text prompts into visuals within Microsoft Designer. [edit]

This tool functions as an interactive assistant rather than a game with rules or objectives. Users interact through natural language prompts to perform tasks such as drafting documents in Word, analyzing data in Excel, or generating code snippets in Visual Studio Code. The system provides source citations for its responses and can create images based on descriptive text.

Recent updates introduced specialized modes including Home for merging chat and coworking features, Code for programming assistance, and Autopilot for automated task execution. In October 2026, GitHub Enterprise licenses included access to GitHub Copilot for all users, streamlining development workflows across teams. [edit]