Microsoft Copilot Chat
What is Copilot Chat?
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant built into Microsoft 365 to help boost efficiency and spark creativity. It leverages advanced language models to support tasks such as creating summaries, organizing ideas and simplifying routine work. This version does not integrate across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams.
UMass Boston Access
UMass Boston faculty, staff, and students can use the enterprise version of Microsoft Copilot Chat by visiting m365.cloud.microsoft/chat or using the button below.
🔐 Important: Always sign in using your UMass Boston Microsoft 365 account and look for the enterprise shield icon to confirm you're in the protected environment. Learn why this matters.
What Copilot Chat Offers
Watch the video below, created with Clipchamp and AI voice tools included in UMass Boston’s Microsoft 365 account.
Introduction to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
The standard Copilot experience works much like ChatGPT Plus, drawing on the latest AI models to respond to questions and create content, including images. It uses a conversational interface, letting you ask for information or request tasks in natural language.
- Chat using text, voice, or images, powered by the latest AI models
- Generate summaries of documents and online content
- Create original images
- Enhance answers with information from web searches
- Benefit from enterprise-level data protection when signed in with your UMass Boston account
Responsible Use
Use Copilot Chat responsibly: Do not use Copilot to process personal information that could violate HIPAA or other data protection laws.
Copilot Chat is a powerful tool but how you use it depends on your responsibilities at UMass Boston. We offer tailored guidance for:
- Students – Using Copilot to support learning with integrity
- Staff – Using Copilot ethically and productively at work
- Faculty – Designing assignments and setting expectations around AI use
- Researchers – Managing information and sources responsibly
- Watch a Video – Responsible Use of Copilot to learn more!
Copilot Interface
This interface highlights what you can do with Copilot Chat. Start new conversations, revisit past chats, use or create agents, upload files for summaries, generate new content, and explore suggested or saved prompts.
- Start fresh chats or return to previous ones.
- Use built-in agents such as study coaches or create your own. Learn more about Copilot Agents.
- Upload files for Copilot to analyze.
- Browse suggested prompts or your saved prompt gallery.
Writing an Effective Prompt
Using these elements helps you write clearer prompts and get more accurate, helpful results.
To get the best results from Copilot, include these four key ingredients in your prompt:
1. Context: Why do you need the information, and who is involved?
- Give Copilot background to help it understand your situation.
Example: “I need to prepare a communication plan for our department's new orientation process.”
2. Goal: What kind of response do you want Copilot to provide?
- Be specific about the type of help you’re looking for.
Example: “Summarize this article in 3 bullet points using plain language.”
3. Source: What documents, examples, or data should Copilot refer to?
- Point Copilot to materials online or provide information you have already gathered.
Example: “Search the Healey Library website to find out how to use the UMBrella Research Assistant and summarize the steps.”
4. Expectations: How should Copilot format or tailor the response?
- Tell it how you want the output to look or sound.
Example: Explain a concept using a metaphor that a high school student would understand. - You can also ask Copilot to take on a specific role, like: “Act as a study coach and quiz me on key terms,” or “Act as an accessibility expert and review this event flyer.”
Use these elements together to write smarter prompts and get more useful results.
A Note of Caution
Copilot is powerful, but it’s not perfect. Keep these best practices in mind:
- Always fact-check the results before using them.
- Ask for sources – request links or references when accuracy matters.
- Use human oversight – never rely solely on AI for critical decisions.
- Watch for unintentional bias – AI can reflect bias from training data or inputs.
- Don’t be fooled by confident tone – answers may sound right but still be wrong.
Even when results look polished and professional, they should be reviewed carefully. Copilot works best as a helpful assistant, not a final authority.
Copilot Basics and Prompting Tips
Getting Started with Copilot Chat
New to Microsoft Copilot? Start here:
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What is Copilot? – Learn what Copilot can do and how it enhances your work.
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Getting Started with Copilot – Step-by-step guide from Microsoft on how to access, install, and use Copilot's features across your devices.
- Introduction to Copilot Chat – Learn how to use Copilot Chat in your work and studies.
Using Copilot Prompts
Make the most of Copilot with well-crafted prompts:
- Copilot Prompts: Learn how prompts work and get tips for writing clear, effective instructions to improve results.
- AI Prompt Guide for Students, Faculty and Staff: UMass Boston resource with tailored, ethical prompt examples for learning, teaching, and working with AI.
- Prompting Best Practices for Copilot Chat: Explore tips that make prompting more productive and tailored to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the benefit of using Copilot with my UMass Boston account instead of the public version?
Security and Privacy
- When you sign in to Copilot with your UMass Boston Microsoft 365 account, your information is protected under the same security and privacy standards that apply to all university Microsoft services.
- Prompts and responses are not used to train public AI models.
- Conversations are tied to your UMass Boston login and managed under the university’s Microsoft 365 compliance framework.
- No one else can see your chats or activity unless you choose to share them.
Data Access
- At this time, Copilot for UMass Boston provides access to public web information only. It does not connect to your university files, emails, or Teams chats.
This means you can:
- Explore ideas, summarize information, or draft content safely within UMass Boston’s secure environment.
- Ask questions that relate to your studies, work, or campus life.
- Copilot may also surface information from UMass Boston’s public website when it’s available online.
Example
Asking “What are good ways to prepare for finals?” will give you general web-based advice. Asking “Where can I get IT help at UMass Boston?” may show information from the university’s public IT website.
What sources does Copilot use to answer my questions?
Public Web Sources
Copilot uses information from publicly available web pages such as:
- Educational and news sites
- Microsoft documentation
- Publicly accessible university pages
These results are selected to provide reliable, general answers and guidance.
UMass Boston–Related Sources
Copilot can include information from UMass Boston’s public website if relevant to your question. It does not search inside university systems like OneDrive, SharePoint, or Outlook at this time.
Access and Permissions
- Copilot only draws from information that is publicly available on the web.
- It cannot access your private files or messages.
- You control what you share—Copilot will never view your documents, emails, or Teams chats.
How can I share content with Copilot?
You can paste information directly into the chat, such as text you'd like help rewording or summarizing. You can also upload images (like screenshots or charts) for Copilot to describe or analyze.
Note that Copilot cannot access your OneDrive, SharePoint, or Teams files.
Everything you share stays private to your session. Copilot doesn’t store or share what you enter or upload, and nothing is saved unless you choose to copy or share it yourself.