Copilot

In short

Copilot is the brand name Microsoft and GitHub use for their AI assistants, and also a general term for AI built into an app that suggests text, code or actions you can accept, change or reject.

Also called: Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot, AI copilot
Topic: Using AI tools
Level: Beginner
First described: GitHub introduced GitHub Copilot, powered by OpenAI Codex, on 29 June 2021¹. Microsoft adopted "copilot" for Bing in February 2023².

GitHub used the name first. It launched GitHub Copilot in June 2021 as "a new AI pair programmer" that suggests whole lines or entire functions as you code, powered by OpenAI's Codex model¹.

Microsoft then spread the name across its products. In February 2023 it described the new AI-powered Bing and Edge as "an AI copilot for the web"². In March 2023 it announced Microsoft 365 Copilot for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams³. In November 2023, Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise were renamed Microsoft Copilot⁴.

So the same name covers several different products. Copilot for Microsoft 365 was priced at $30 per user per month for businesses when it became generally available, while Copilot in Windows came free for commercial customers⁵. They share branding, not necessarily features or access to your data.

As a general term, a copilot is AI that works inside the software you already use, rather than in a separate chat window or as an agent acting on its own. Microsoft's pitch stresses that "you're always in control" and decide what to keep, change or discard³.

Example

A council officer asks Copilot in Outlook to summarise a long email thread and draft a reply, then edits the draft before sending. Microsoft lists thread summaries and suggested replies among Copilot's Outlook features³.

Why it matters

Because one name covers several products, it helps to know which Copilot you are using, what it costs and what data it can see.

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Copilot the same as ChatGPT?

No, but they are related. Microsoft built the new Bing, which later became Copilot, on an OpenAI large language model²⁴. Copilot is Microsoft's own product, with its own features and links to Microsoft services.

Is GitHub Copilot the same as Microsoft Copilot?

No. GitHub Copilot is a coding tool launched in 2021 and originally powered by OpenAI Codex¹. Microsoft Copilot is a general assistant that grew out of Bing Chat⁴.

How much does Microsoft 365 Copilot cost?

At general availability in November 2023 it cost $30 per user per month for enterprise customers⁵. Prices and plans have changed since, so check Microsoft's current price list.

Related terms

Tools that use it

Sources

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