Microsoft launched Copilot in OneDrive for commercial users, enhancing the platform with AI-powered tools designed to improve document management and productivity. This new feature set allows users to generate summaries, compare documents, retrieve information, and create content more efficiently, thereby reducing the time spent on manual tasks.
Copilot provides several functionalities designed to simplify users' interaction with their documents. One feature allows users to generate summaries of lengthy documents, enabling them to quickly understand the main points without reading through the entire text. Users can summarize single documents or analyze up to five files simultaneously.
There has been a doubt regarding Copilot's ability to summarize PDF files. User miketheinsurancecoach asked:
How long do you think it will be before Copilot can summarize or interrogate PDF files instead of just Microsoft files like Word and Excel?
In response, Scott Brant, a Microsoft MVP, confirmed:
The great news is that it can do that today. I just did not have time to include it in the video, but you can summarize PDFs and ask questions about PDFs. I just tried this with a 50-page PDF in my OneDrive, and it summarized and gave me the recommendations from the PDF in about 15 seconds too.
Another aspect of Copilot is its ability to compare multiple documents. Users can highlight key differences between files, such as contracts or reports, without opening them individually.
In addition to summarization and comparison, Copilot offers advanced information retrieval capabilities. Users can ask Copilot complex questions regarding the content of their OneDrive files. For instance, if a user needs specific data from several documents, Copilot can extract relevant information across those files, acting as a centralized resource for insights.
Moreover, Copilot can assist users in generating content for new documents. By selecting relevant files, users can prompt Copilot to suggest outlines, ideas, or even draft text for various applications, such as sales proposals or project plans.
Users can activate Copilot by hovering over a supported file and selecting the Copilot option from the menu. Currently, Copilot is available only to commercial users through the OneDrive web interface. Users need to sign in with their Microsoft work or school accounts to access these functionalities. Comprehensive guides and FAQs are provided to help users familiarize themselves with Copilot's features.
Early feedback from the community has been positive, with many users expressing their enthusiasm for the new features. One of them wrote the following words below the official announcement post:
Brilliant. Being able to access my SharePoint and Teams files in OneDrive means I can use Copilot on those too. Excellent.
For further details on using Copilot, users can refer to the official documentation, which covers various features and provides tips for efficient use.