What Is Microsoft Copilot? A Guide

If you use a Windows PC or Microsoft Office, you have probably seen the Copilot button and wondered what it actually is. This is the plain-English guide to Microsoft Copilot: what it is, where to find it, what it does, and how it compares to ChatGPT.

What is Microsoft Copilot in simple terms?

Copilot is Microsoft’s name for its AI assistant. You type or speak a request and it answers, drafts text, summarizes, and helps inside the programs you already use. The thing that sets it apart is reach: rather than a separate app you visit, Copilot is woven into Windows and Office so it can help right where you work.

Copilot at a glance
Made by	Microsoft
Runs on	OpenAI’s models plus Microsoft’s own
Lives in	Windows, Edge, Microsoft 365, web, and mobile
Cost	Free, with paid plans
Best for	People who work in Windows and Office

Who is behind Copilot?

Microsoft. It builds Copilot using AI models from OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, alongside its own technology. Microsoft is OpenAI’s largest investor, which is why the two are so closely linked. Copilot is also the grown-up version of what Microsoft used to call Bing Chat.

Where do you find Copilot?

• On Windows, as a button in the taskbar
• In the Edge browser and on Bing
• At copilot.microsoft.com and in the Copilot mobile app
• Inside Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

What can you use Copilot for?

• Drafting and rewriting emails and documents
• Summarizing long files, threads, or meetings
• Building a first draft of a slide deck or spreadsheet
• Answering questions and searching the web
• Generating images from a description

Is Copilot free, and what does it cost?

There is a free version that covers everyday chat, search, and writing help. Paid options add Copilot inside the Office apps and higher limits. We lay out every tier in our Microsoft Copilot pricing guide, and our how-to guide shows it in action.

How is Copilot different from ChatGPT?

Under the hood they share OpenAI’s models, so the core chat experience feels similar. The difference is the wrapper. ChatGPT is OpenAI’s own product; Copilot is Microsoft’s, tuned to live inside Windows and Office and to work with your files there. If your day runs on Microsoft tools, Copilot meets you where you are. For the bigger picture, see AI models in 2026.

What is Copilot not good at?

Common questions about Microsoft Copilot

Is Microsoft Copilot the same as ChatGPT?

No, but they are related. Copilot uses OpenAI’s models, the same family behind ChatGPT, but it is Microsoft’s own product, built into Windows and Office.

Is Copilot the same as Bing Chat?

Copilot is the newer name and a broader product. Microsoft started with Bing Chat and rebranded and expanded it into Copilot across Windows and Office.

Do I need a Microsoft account to use Copilot?

You can try basic Copilot without signing in, but a free Microsoft account unlocks more and lets it work across your apps and devices.

Can Copilot be wrong?

Yes. Like all AI assistants, it can sound confident and still be wrong. Verify anything important before relying on it.

Sources

• Microsoft, about Copilot
• Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing

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