Microsoft Copilot Review

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant - a tool you can have a conversation with to get help with everyday tasks. You type a question or a request, and it responds with a helpful answer, a draft, or a summary. It's a bit like having a very knowledgeable assistant available at any time of day.

Copilot is made by Microsoft and powered by OpenAI's GPT-5 technology - the same underlying model that powers ChatGPT. Microsoft has packaged it into their own products, which means it feels familiar if you've used Windows or Office before.

You probably already have it

If you use a Windows 11 computer, Microsoft Copilot is already on your machine. Look at the bottom of your screen - the taskbar. You should see a small icon that looks like a blue and green swirl. Click it, and a panel opens on the right side of your screen. That's Copilot.

You can also reach it through the Edge web browser (Microsoft's browser, which comes pre-installed on Windows). In Edge, there is a Copilot button in the top right corner. And you can go directly to copilot.microsoft.com from any browser - Chrome, Firefox, Safari - on any computer or tablet.

Most people who have a Microsoft account (for email, Xbox, or anything else Microsoft) can sign in straight away. If you don't have one, creating one is free and takes about two minutes.

What can it do?

Copilot handles a wide range of everyday requests. Here are some of the most useful:

• Answering questions - Ask it anything. How does a particular medication work? What does this legal term mean? What's the weather forecast? It gives you a direct answer, not a list of links to click.
• Helping write emails or letters - Tell Copilot who you're writing to and what you want to say. It will draft the email for you. You can then edit it, or ask Copilot to make it shorter, more formal, or friendlier.
• Summarising articles and documents - If you're reading a long article in the Edge browser, you can ask Copilot to summarise it. Paste in a complicated letter and ask what it actually means.
• Planning and organising - Ask it to help you plan a trip, write a shopping list, or work out how to approach a task.
• Explaining things clearly - If you've read something confusing, you can copy it in and ask Copilot to explain it in plain language.

The taskbar button in Windows 11

Microsoft has placed the Copilot button prominently in Windows 11 specifically to make it easy to access. When you click it, the Copilot panel opens on the right side of your screen - next to whatever you're already working on. This means you can be reading a document in one window and asking Copilot questions in the panel next to it, without switching back and forth.

This integration with the rest of Windows is one of Copilot's genuine advantages. You can ask it about something you're looking at on screen, copy text from anywhere and paste it in to ask a question, or use it alongside Word and Outlook.

Bing and search results

When Copilot answers questions, it often draws on Bing - Microsoft's search engine - to get up-to-date information. This means it can answer questions about current events, look up specific facts, and find recent information. The results are presented as part of a proper answer rather than a list of links.

One thing to be aware of: some Bing search results are paid advertisements, and these can occasionally appear alongside Copilot's answers. The ads are usually labelled, but it's worth knowing they exist. This is the same as when you search on Google and see sponsored results at the top.

Privacy: what does Microsoft do with your data?

When you use Copilot, Microsoft receives the text you type in and uses it to generate a response. Microsoft also collects information about how you use the service - for example, which features you use and how often.

Microsoft states that it uses this information to improve its products and services. This is standard practice for most online services - it's similar to how Google uses your search history to improve search results. Microsoft does not sell your personal data to third parties for advertising.

In practical terms: don't type in passwords, bank account numbers, or sensitive personal details. Use Copilot the way you'd use a search engine - for information, help with tasks, and general questions. For genuinely sensitive information, speak to a professional directly.

If you want more control, you can visit your Microsoft account privacy settings to see and delete your Copilot history.

Who is Copilot best suited to?

Copilot is ideal for:

• Windows users - If your computer runs Windows 11, Copilot is already there. It's the easiest starting point.
• People in the Microsoft ecosystem - If you use Outlook for email, Word for documents, or Teams for video calls, Copilot works alongside all of these.
• People who don't want a new subscription - The free version of Copilot is fully functional for everyday tasks. You don't need to pay anything.
• People who want familiar ground - The Microsoft environment feels comfortable to many people who have used Windows for years.

Limitations

Copilot is not the best option in every situation:

• Less personality than some alternatives - Claude and ChatGPT feel more conversational. Copilot is efficient but less warm.
• Tied to Microsoft - It works best in the Microsoft ecosystem. On a Mac or iPhone, other options may suit you better.
• Bing ads - As mentioned above, sponsored results can occasionally appear alongside answers.
• Not as strong for nuanced documents - For understanding complicated medical or legal documents, Claude tends to give clearer, more thorough explanations.

Our verdict

If you have a Windows 11 computer and you're curious about AI tools, Microsoft Copilot is the simplest place to start. It's already there, it's free, and it works well for the most common everyday tasks. You don't need to learn anything new or commit to a subscription. Just click the button and ask a question.

If you find yourself wanting more thorough, thoughtful answers - particularly for understanding complicated documents - we'd suggest also trying Claude, which is free and available in any browser. But for a first experience, Copilot is a comfortable, low-stakes introduction to what AI tools can do.