AVNation TV

Tag: Copilot

  • AI Transformation in Action

    AI Transformation in Action

    On January 30, 2025, the Microsoft AI Tour made its stop in New York City at the North Javits Center. This one-day event brought together a dynamic community of senior business leaders, IT professionals, software developers, and AI enthusiasts to explore the next generation of AI-powered solutions and tools.

    In an era where AI-driven transformation is a key competitive advantage, the Microsoft AI Tour NYC provided attendees with actionable insights, hands-on experiences, and exposure to the latest AI innovations from one of the world’s most forward-thinking tech companies. The event focused less on “what’s coming next” and more on the immediate strategic business impact AI is already delivering. Across keynotes, thought leadership sessions, and technical workshops, one thing became clear: while many organizations have started their AI journey, few have reached full maturity.

    Scott Guthrie, Microsoft Executive Vice President, Cloud + AI, delivered an insightful keynote, reinforcing Microsoft’s AI strategy and highlighting how organizations can leverage AI today to drive meaningful business outcomes.

    Copilot Levels Up

    Microsoft’s vision for Copilot has evolved well beyond its initial role as a simple “productivity assistant.” Since its launch 16 months ago, Copilot has primarily been seen as a tool for summarizing meetings, categorizing emails, and assisting with tasks in Excel and PowerPoint. However, a live keynote demo showcased just how much further its capabilities have advanced.

    In the demo, Seth Juarez, Principal Program Manager, AI Platform at Microsoft, interacted with a specialized Copilot customer service agent for a fictional outdoor equipment company. Midway through the conversation, he pivoted and asked, “Can you just call me?” Instantly, his phone rang—without him specifying contact details—and an AI assistant seamlessly picked up the conversation exactly where the chat had left off. This assistant could:

    • Instantly recognize Seth and retrieve relevant contextual data
    • Provide tailored product recommendations
    • Generate visual guides to demonstrate product features
    • Instantly switch languages upon request
    • Operate using publicly available capabilities demonstrated throughout the event

    This moment highlighted a significant shift—Copilot is no longer just a passive tool; it’s becoming an active, intelligent AI partner in real-world business workflows.

    Emphasis on Trustworthy AI

    Throughout the event, Microsoft reinforced its commitment to trust, security, and governance in AI solutions. With 2024 being a year filled with concerns about AI transparency and explainability, Microsoft’s advancements in the Azure AI stack now offer clearer auditability and traceability.

    The discussions emphasized ensuring AI outputs are verifiable, aligning AI-generated insights with human oversight, and providing transparency into AI-driven decision-making. These advancements mark a significant step toward making AI solutions not only powerful but also enterprise-ready and accountable.

    Overcoming Challenges Moving from Pilot to Production

    Scaling AI from pilot projects to full-scale production remains one of the biggest hurdles for organizations. Wendy Collins, Chief AI Officer for NTT Data, shared finding that while “86% of respondents [to an NTT Data survey] said they have a well-defined GenAI strategy in place, but 48% have not yet aligned that strategy with their business plans.” That gap in strategic alignment is a critical area to address to increase the impact of AI in organizations of every size.

    Conversations with attendees reinforced this challenge—many organizations have multiple AI projects in pilot, but far fewer have successfully scaled them to production.

    Strategies for overcoming this gap included:

    • Securing stakeholder buy-in, whether from executives pushing top-down or subject matter experts driving adoption bottom-up
    • Focusing on addressing the biggest challenges the business faces, ensuring AI solutions target the most critical pain points and opportunities for impact
    • Treating AI components as microservices, making future refactoring easier as technology and models evolve
    • Prioritizing the end-user experience, ensuring solutions align with real business workflows, not just technical feasibility
    • Testing at every phase of development, not just at the end, to diagnose issues early—whether they stem from interpretation, data quality, or implementation errors

    Multiple Platforms for AI Development

    Over the past six months, Microsoft has continued to enhance its AI development platforms, offering multiple paths for businesses to build AI-powered solutions:

    • Copilot Studio (Low/No-Code): Ideal for organizations looking to quickly deploy AI solutions without extensive coding requirements.
    • Azure AI Foundry: Designed to simplify piloting and scaling AI applications.
    • Azure AI (Full-Code): Provides maximum flexibility and control for custom AI development, with over 1,800 data models currently available (including DeepSeek as of the event date).

    Microsoft and KPMG presented research highlighting GitHub Copilot’s role in improving developer efficiency. Findings showed:

    • A 20-30% boost in efficiency when writing unit tests with GitHub Copilot, leading to more robust software
    • A 30-40% reduction in time spent on documentation, freeing up developers for higher-value tasks

    AI-Powered Devices for Business

    One of the major highlights of the event was Microsoft’s announcement of the new Surface Copilot+ PCs for Business. These cutting-edge devices, including the latest Surface Pro and Surface Laptop, now offer an x86 version to complement the existing Snapdragon models. They also incorporate onboard AI chips, providing key advantages:

    1. On-device AI processing: Powered by smaller language models, these devices can complete certain AI tasks faster and without requiring a cloud connection.

    2. Regulatory compliance: In highly regulated industries, local AI processing helps simplify compliance by ensuring data remains on the device rather than being sent to the cloud.

    3. Power management: Microsoft claims significant battery life improvements, particularly when using Microsoft Teams, positioning these devices to rival the latest

    MacBook Pro models. While I couldn’t verify these claims firsthand, they are certainly noteworthy.

    It’s Not Too Late

    Perhaps the most important takeaway from the AI Tour is this: organizations are at vastly different levels of AI adoption, and that’s okay. What is absolutely clear is that it has never been more important to take the next step in your organization’s journey—whether that means maturing existing practices, scaling pilots into production, or simply getting started with AI development.

    The strategic opportunity in front of us is real. Now is the time to take the next step.

  • Revolutionizing the hybrid office in 2025: why AI will be a powerful tool for modern work

    Revolutionizing the hybrid office in 2025: why AI will be a powerful tool for modern work

    As we move into 2025, the integration of AI in the modern workplace continues to evolve, and company leaders have already begun to recognize its potential to simplify and speed up their employee’s day-to-day work. Whether creating tailored social media content, or improving already heightened search functionality, as AI usage and personal familiarity grows, employees will lean even further into AI over the coming years.

    Employees will look to embrace everyday AI
    AI has the potential to become a commonplace resource across various work functions, touching everything from automating repetitive tasks to organizing data and improving decision-making. Over time as AI learns and evolves with new technological advancements, it will also assist employees with scheduling meetings, drafting emails, tracking trends, and offering insights for strategy development. As these tools become more user-friendly, employees will naturally embrace them to drive productivity, foster creativity, and enhance collaboration in the workplace collaboration.

    Regardless of RTO policies, leaders need to optimize the office
    With return-to-office (RTO) trends likely growing in prevalence, physical meeting spaces must also look to AI to help accommodate a more diverse range of working environments. This transformation is no easy undertaking and requires the development of flexible, inclusive spaces that integrate every employee’s working preference seamlessly. Investments in advanced technologies, including generative AI solutions and products, will make these spaces more interactive and personalized.

    Strategic, flexible workspaces are crucial for ensuring effective, high-quality communication between in-office and remote workers, to minimize the disruption that comes with everyday life. Mobile workstations, advanced video conferencing tools, dedicated collaboration areas, and portable technology will be essential to ensure smooth connectivity across different locations. Additionally, meeting rooms will need to be equipped with high-quality audio, smart lighting, and IoT-driven features to improve comfort and productivity. By investing in these physical transformations in tandem with AI integration, businesses can foster collaboration to stay ahead of the shifting needs of the modern workforce.

    Modern work means aiming higher with AI-supported meetings
    Having a successful work environment, however, goes beyond just the physical look and feel of an office– it’s cemented by the efficiency of the teams. In 2025, productive multitasking will reach new heights, driven by AI solutions like Copilot and Zoom AI, which will remove the distraction of time-consuming administrative tasks during hybrid meetings. As capabilities improve, these tools will automatically capture and summarize key meeting points, handle scheduling, manage attendance, and track action items in real-time. By streamlining these essential functions, AI allows participants to stay fully engaged in discussions, without the burden of managing logistics or meeting details on their shoulders.

    With the automation of these routine tasks, employees will have more time to effectively collaborate, ultimately enhancing the overall meeting experience and fostering better communication across teams. As we look ahead to 2025, the continued integration of AI into our daily lives and work promises to bring even more comfort with the technology, and with the right approach, can be a powerful tool for driving modern work.

  • Microsot Copilot: Complete Guide to Leveraging UC AI

    Microsot Copilot: Complete Guide to Leveraging UC AI

    Step-by-step guide for turning on Microsoft Copilot

    Get ready for the next generation of Microsoft and AI coming together. Microsoft Copilot is here and ready to be engaged. Copilot is a new AI assistant that promises to revolutionize the way you work with Microsoft products. It’s currently available for consumers, and enterprise customers will get their hands on it starting November 1st, 2023.

    But how do you enable Copilot in all your Microsoft products?

    Here’s a quick guide:

    1. Head to the Microsoft Copilot website and sign in with your Microsoft account.
    2. Click the big, blue Enable Copilot button.
    3. Select the Microsoft products where you want to use Copilot.
    4. Click the Enable Copilot button again.
    5. And that’s it! Copilot is now enabled in all your selected Microsoft products. You can start using it right away by typing a command or question in the Copilot input box.

    For example, you can say “Copilot, help me write a resume” and Copilot will generate a personalized resume for you. Or, you can say “Copilot, translate this email into Spanish” and Copilot will translate the email for you.

    Copilot is still under development, but it has the potential to be a powerful tool for anyone who uses Microsoft products. So be sure to enable it today and start exploring all the things it can do.

    Microsoft Copilot: AI assistant to streamline workflows

    Copilot can draw information from different parts of the Microsoft ecosystem to help users with tasks such as crafting emails, drafting documents, and creating presentations. It can also help users to summarize key points and action items, and to jumpstart replies.

    Copilot is accessible in two different ways: companies can access its generative AI capabilities in the tools they already use, or they can use the Business Chat or Bing Chat solution.

    Copilot is set to roll out fully for enterprise users in November 2023. It has already earned significant positive feedback from initial testers.

    Microsoft Copilot: Pricing Models

    Microsoft’s new AI assistant, Copilot, is now available for purchase, but it comes with a hefty price tag. Copilot costs $30 per user per month, in addition to the cost of a Microsoft subscription such as Business Standard, Premium, E3, or E5.

    The good news is that Bing Chat Enterprise, Microsoft’s AI-powered chat solution, is included in the Copilot packages for no extra cost. Bing Chat Enterprise can also be purchased as a standalone solution for $5 per month per user.

    Some people had predicted that Microsoft would embed Copilot into its tools as a free service, but this is not the case.

    Where can you enable Copilot?

    Microsoft is bringing its Copilot AI assistant to virtually every corner of its software suite. It’ll be available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Teams Phone, Viva, Loop, SharePoint, and Power Platform. There’s even a dedicated Copilot for sales teams.

    Microsoft is also replacing Cortana with Copilot in Bing Chat Enterprise.

    As Microsoft continues to invest in generative AI and large language models through its partnership with OpenAI, we can expect to see even more Copilot tools emerge in the future. Keep an eye on Microsoft’s product roadmap for the latest updates.

    Microsoft Copilot: What You Need to Know Before You Enable It

    Before you can enable Microsoft Copilot, you’ll need a few things:

    • A subscription to both Copilot and an approved plan, such as Microsoft 365 E5 or E3.
    • Access to Microsoft 365 apps for enterprise.
    • Entra IDs (formerly Azure Active Directory accounts) for all users.
    • Access to Microsoft OneDrive.
    • Access to Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and Microsoft Loop.
    • User devices on either the “Monthly Enterprise channel” or “Current Channel.”
    • WebSocket connections enabled.

    Microsoft Copilot will first roll out to the Current Channel in November 2023, and to the Enterprise channel a month later.

    Microsoft recommends ensuring your network aligns with the Microsoft 365 connectivity principles for minimal latency.

    How to Assign Licenses for Microsoft Copilot

    To enable users in your business to access Microsoft Copilot, you will need to assign them licenses. Administrators can do this using the Microsoft 365 admin center.

    If you have not already provisioned tenant users, you can follow the steps in the Microsoft 365 Copilot setup guide.

    If you have already provisioned users in your tenant, go to the Microsoft 365 admin center and enable Copilot for either individual users or your entire tenant. You can also do this using PowerShell, with the Set-MsolUserLicense cmdlet.

    Once a user has been assigned a license for Copilot, they should be able to access the experience immediately within their Microsoft apps. In some apps, such as Word, a dialog box will automatically appear when users create a new document.

    In other environments, users must click the Copilot button in a menu ribbon (such as in Microsoft Teams).

    Microsoft recommends enabling feedback settings for Copilot so that you can gather insights about user experiences. You can also use the Microsoft 365 Copilot usage report to get an overview of user adoption, retention, and engagement.

    The complete reports are available in the Microsoft 365 admin center under “Reports” and “Usage.”

    Microsoft Copilot for Windows 11: How to Enable It

    Microsoft announced Windows Copilot, a personal assistant for Windows 11 users, at its Build 2023 conference in May. Copilot is designed to help users be more productive, and it can be used to customize settings, connect to apps, and more.

    Users can ask Copilot questions and request support with tasks, such as rewriting or summarizing content. Copilot can also be used to access information from the web.

    A preview version of Copilot for Windows 11 started rolling out to specific users in June. To enable Copilot today, you need to be running the Windows Insider version of Windows 11, which is intended for developers.

    Enable Microsoft Copilot on Windows: A step-by-step guide

    If you’re not already on the Windows Insider Dev channel, you’ll need to enroll your Windows 11 PC to get Copilot. Here’s how:

    1. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Windows Insider Program.
    2. Sign in with your Microsoft account and click Get Started.
    3. Link your Microsoft credentials and choose the Dev Channel.
    4. Click Continue and reboot your PC.
    5. Your PC will download and install the latest Windows 11 build. Once it’s up and running, follow these steps:
    6. Download ViveTool GUI from GitHub.
    7. Install and launch the app.
    8. Select build 23493.1000.
    9. Activate features 44774629, 44850061, 44776738, 42105254, and 41655236.
    10. Update Microsoft Edge by going to Help and Feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
    11. Reboot your PC.
    12. Launch Copilot with the Windows key + C shortcut.

    If that all seems too complicated, you can simply wait for Microsoft to release a Windows update with Copilot included.

    Once Copilot is available on your device, you can launch it by clicking the Copilot button on the taskbar or pressing Win + C. You can also disable Copilot by going to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and switching Copilot off.

    Microsoft Copilot: AI Assistant to Boost Productivity in Microsoft 365

    Microsoft Copilot is a new AI assistant designed to boost productivity in Microsoft 365. It was first revealed by Microsoft in 2023 and is now integrated into Microsoft 365 in two ways.

    First, Copilot works alongside users in the tools and apps they use every day, such as Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, and the Power Platform. For example, Copilot can help users draft, revise, and summarize documents in Word; gain new insights from data in Excel; create presentations in PowerPoint; and stay organized in Outlook.

    Second, Copilot powers Business Chat, a new feature that allows users to initiate actions with natural language prompts across all Microsoft 365 apps. For example, users can ask Business Chat to compose content, find important dates, or create work plans.

    Microsoft Copilot is designed to help users work more efficiently and effectively. It can be used to automate tasks, generate content, and get insights from data.

    How to Enable Microsoft Copilot in Microsoft Apps

    Microsoft Copilot is a new AI assistant that is already integrated into Microsoft 365 apps for some users. However, if you have not yet been able to access the features, you may need to update your Microsoft applications.

    Even members of beta channels and those accessing Copilot after the official release may be unable to use the functionality immediately. The roll-out started in November 2023, but it may not reach all businesses and users simultaneously.

    If you can access Microsoft 365 Copilot, you can simply switch it on within any of the integrated Microsoft apps. Find the Copilot icon on the ribbon menu for the app and click it to activate the service.

    Some Copilot experiences will launch Copilot automatically on your apps. For example, when you start a new document in Word or create a spreadsheet in Excel, Copilot will launch in a dialogue window to offer suggestions and guidance.

    Once activated, Microsoft says Copilot will help you unleash your creativity, unlock new productivity levels, and uplevel your skills. According to GitHub data, 99% of users say they are more productive with the tool. Additionally, 74% say they can focus on more satisfying work, and 77% say they spend less time searching for information.

    How to Enable Microsoft Copilot in Teams

    Learning how to enable Microsoft Copilot in Teams can help companies worldwide enhance their collaboration and communication strategies. Microsoft says Copilot in Teams will improve the efficiency of meetings with contextual action items and real-time summaries.

    For example, if a team member forgets to take notes during a meeting, they can ask Copilot for a conversation summary. Copilot will then create a complete document, with crucial decisions made and tasks assigned to each team member.

    Users can even ask Copilot to identify the pros and cons of their meetings to help make future conversations more productive.

    The Business Chat solution created by Microsoft will also be included in Teams. This will allow users to access new capabilities across all applications and data. It works with Microsoft Graph, unifying information from various sources, including calendars and presentations.

    How to Enable Microsoft Copilot in Other Applications

    Microsoft Copilot is now integrated into virtually every aspect of the Microsoft ecosystem, from Power Platform to Microsoft Viva and SharePoint. If you have the proper licenses, you should be able to access the features without having to do much.

    Copilot is automatically embedded into tools like Viva, Power Platform, and SharePoint. To access the services, simply click the Copilot icon. You can also click on the Copilot application to customize your experience. For example, you can turn suggestions on or off, depending on the support you need.

    To see how Copilot can assist users in Viva, visit the community site here.

    Sales Copilot, the sales-focused solution for Microsoft users, requires some extra work to activate. You will need a Dynamics 365 Sales Premium or Enterprise license, and you will need to select the apps and features you want to enable.

    From the “Change” area in the Sales Hub app, go to “App Settings,” then “General Settings,” followed by “Sales Copilot.” If you are accessing it for the first time, you will see an option to “Set up Copilot.” You can then enable or disable the “compose” and “chat” features for users.

    Is it Safe to Enable Microsoft Copilot for Companies?

    As a business leader working with generative AI for the first time, you may have some concerns about enabling Microsoft Copilot. Many organizations have raised concerns about chat-based tools capturing sensitive information from collaboration apps.

    In response, companies like Zoom and Microsoft have begun sharing transparent insights into how data and privacy are protected on their tools.

    Before Microsoft began rolling Copilot out to consumers and businesses, the company released a statement promising a variety of protections. Business leaders will be able to maintain control over which users can access and use Copilot features.

    Additionally, Copilot will have copyright protections to minimize the risks of IP infringement for creators. These copyright protections also apply to GitHub Copilot, so developers shouldn’t have anything to worry about if they’re creating new code.