Microsoft Copilot Chat is an AI-powered chat assistant available to eligible USD students, faculty, and staff when they sign in with their USD Microsoft 365 account. It helps users ask questions, generate content, summarize information, brainstorm ideas, conduct research, and complete everyday tasks using natural language.
Copilot Chat includes commercial data protection, which means prompts and responses are protected under Microsoft's enterprise security and privacy commitments when users are signed in with their USD account. Microsoft states that prompts and responses are not used to train public AI models.
What can I use Copilot Chat for?
Common uses include:
- Drafting emails, announcements, and correspondence
- Summarizing documents and articles
- Brainstorming ideas and project plans
- Creating outlines, agendas, and presentations
- Researching topics and gathering information from the web
- Rewriting content for clarity, tone, or different audiences
- Learning new concepts or skills
How is Copilot Chat different from Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Copilot Chat is a standalone AI chat experience. It can answer questions and generate content, but it does not have access to your Microsoft 365 data.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a licensed add-on that integrates directly with Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 services. It can work with organizational data and content that you already have permission to access.
Is Copilot Chat approved for use at USD?
Yes. Microsoft Copilot Chat is an approved AI platform for USD users and is the university's recommended AI chat solution for general use. Microsoft 365 Copilot is also approved but requires an assigned Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
Does Copilot Chat cost anything additional?
No. Copilot Chat is included for users with eligible Microsoft 365 licensing and does not require a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Advanced Microsoft 365 Copilot capabilities and certain AI agents may require additional licensing or usage-based charges.
Where can I access Copilot Chat?
Sign in with your USD account and access Microsoft Copilot through the Microsoft Copilot web experience or supported Microsoft applications.