Copilot 101: Getting Started with Microsoft Copilot, Real-World Applications

In this episode of the “Copilot 101 Podcast,” Shawn Dorward, Vice President, sa.global, UG Expert, gives insights on how exactly to get started with Microsoft Copilot, and he shares real-world examples of how he’s applied Copilot to his daily workflows.

This episode is sponsored by the AI Copilot Preconference taking place on October 13 in San Antonio, Texas, and the AI Copilot Summit NA, taking place March 17-19, 2025 in San Diego, California.

Key Takeaways

• Getting started with Copilot: Microsoft Copilot is integrated into nearly every Microsoft product, with around 177 different Copilots available. It serves as an AI companion to help users navigate and utilize these tools effectively. Shawn explains that he found it overwhelming at first but decided to start with the simplest version, Copilot on Windows, which is accessible from the taskbar and integrates seamlessly into the desktop environment.
• Copilot on Windows: Shawn started using Copilot for Windows on Windows 11, which is free and saved him $20 a month compared to using ChatGPT. He used it for quick grabs of information, like finding images for PowerPoint presentations, making the introduction of Copilot easier to grasp.
• Further applications: In addition to Copilot on Windows, Shawn explains that he used Copilot for web queries, like asking about stats or updates for Microsoft Business Central, and found it provided reasonable answers with references. This easy entry point led him to commit to using Copilot on a daily basis, not just in Windows but also in other Microsoft 365 products like PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Setting expectations of Copilot: When getting started with Copilot, it’s important to set the right expectations and understand that it’s designed to enhance your capabilities, not replace you. In the bigger picture, Copilot can handle larger tasks like processing customer orders by recognizing emails, checking inventory, creating orders, and fulfilling them, all automatically through integration with systems like OneDrive or Business Central.
• Continuous training of Copilot: Starting with AI can be overwhelming, so it’s important to understand that it’s a journey that takes time. Think of Copilot as a junior colleague whose work you need to validate and guide, recognizing that the more information and experience it gains, the more accurate and helpful it will become. Shawn adds that it’s important to “own” the process, which will build your confidence in using Copilot across different platforms, recognizing that it’s an evolving journey for both you and Copilot.
• Real-world example: In closing, Shawn shares his experience as a Tesla owner, highlighting the journey of learning to trust the car’s self-driving AI capabilities over time. He draws a parallel to using Copilot, emphasizing that building trust and confidence in AI capabilities is a gradual process that ultimately leads to greater efficiency and the ability to focus on more valuable tasks.

Stream the audio version of this episode here: