Microsoft Copilot’s Wave 2: Here’s What You Need to Know

Microsoft Copilot has been a game-changer in the world of AI assistants, rivalling even the popular ChatGPT from OpenAI. Microsoft’s latest update, known as Wave 2, brings a host of significant upgrades that promise to elevate the Copilot experience for both enterprise and personal users. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the new features and improvements introduced in Microsoft Copilot’s Wave 2.

Key Takeaways

Wave 2 introduces new features like Copilot Pages, which allow users to create and share insights easily.
Copilot in Excel with Python allows advanced analysis using natural language without coding.
New features across Microsoft 365 apps, including Teams, Outlook, Word, and OneDrive, improve productivity and collaboration.
Copilot Agents and the Agent Builder are now available, providing tailored AI assistance.
GPT-4o, a highly advanced AI model, is now powering Microsoft Copilot, promising faster and more accurate responses.

Microsoft Copilot’s Wave 2 represents a significant upgrade to Microsoft’s AI assistant, building on its existing capabilities and adding new features designed to improve productivity and collaboration. Announced during Microsoft’s live-streamed event these updates aim to make Copilot an even more powerful tool for businesses and personal users alike.

New Features in Microsoft Copilot’s Wave 2

Copilot Pages: Collaborative AI at Your Fingertips

One of the most exciting additions in Wave 2 is Copilot Pages, a feature designed to enhance collaboration by allowing users to create and share insights effortlessly.

What are Copilot Pages?

Copilot Pages enable users to take insights generated by Copilot—rooted in your business data from Microsoft 365 applications—and edit, add, and share them with teams in a simple, document-like format. This feature is built within BizChat, a workflow that uses data from your work account to provide intelligent answers.

Key Benefits of Copilot Pages

Enhanced Collaboration: Pages function like editable documents that can be shared via links, allowing multiple users to contribute and collaborate in real time.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Insights derived from your business data can be easily compiled and discussed among team members.
Accessibility: This feature is rolling out now to Microsoft 365 Copilot customers and will soon be available to free Copilot users signed in with their Microsoft Entra account.

Copilot Enhancements in Microsoft 365 Apps

Microsoft Copilot’s Wave 2 focuses on making Microsoft 365 applications more intuitive and powerful. Below are some of the key updates to popular apps like Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Word, and OneDrive.

Copilot in Excel: Now with Python

One of the most notable updates is Copilot in Excel, which is now generally available to all users. Microsoft has also introduced Copilot in Excel with Python, currently in public preview.

Key Features of Copilot in Excel

Formula Support: Copilot assists with formulas, data visualization, and conditional formatting, making complex calculations easier.
Python Integration: Users can now leverage Python for advanced analytics, such as forecasting and risk analysis, using natural language commands—no coding required.

Narrative Builder in PowerPoint

Microsoft has made the Narrative Builder in PowerPoint generally available. This tool helps users create the first draft of their presentations quickly and efficiently.

Key Features of Narrative Builder

Automated Outlines: Type in a topic, and the Builder generates an outline in minutes, saving time on preparation.
Enhanced Presentation Quality: The feature ensures presentations are logically structured and engaging, improving overall communication.

Copilot in Teams: Meeting Summaries and More

Microsoft Teams also sees significant improvements with Copilot’s Wave 2 update. Copilot can now synthesize meeting content, including what was said during the meeting and what was sent in the chat.

Key Features of Copilot in Teams

Meeting Summaries: Ask Copilot what you missed, and it will provide a comprehensive summary that includes both spoken content and chat messages.
Actionable Insights: Copilot identifies key takeaways and next steps, ensuring that no important information is overlooked.

Copilot in Outlook: Prioritise Your Inbox

With the Wave 2 update, Copilot in Outlook has introduced a feature called “Prioritize my inbox,” which analyses incoming emails to identify the most important messages.

Key Features of Copilot in Outlook

Email Summarisation: Copilot provides a brief summary of prioritised emails, highlighting why they are important.
Customisable Prioritisation: Users will soon be able to instruct Copilot on which topics or keywords to focus on when flagging high-priority emails, tailoring the inbox experience to their needs.

Copilot in Word: A New Way to Collaborate

Microsoft Word users benefit from new collaborative features that make working on documents with Copilot easier and more efficient.

Key Features of Copilot in Word

Quick Reference: A new feature allows users to reference external data, such as emails, PDFs, and PowerPoints, directly within Word, making it easier to incorporate relevant information.
On-Canvas Start Experience: This new experience allows users to interact with Copilot inline, editing sections of the document collaboratively.

Copilot in OneDrive: Smarter File Management

Lastly, Microsoft Copilot’s Wave 2 brings enhanced file management capabilities to OneDrive. Copilot can now assist with file search, summarisation, and even comparison, making it a versatile tool for managing your data.

Key Features of Copilot in OneDrive

Efficient File Search: Quickly locate files in your OneDrive repository using natural language commands.
File Comparison: Copilot can compare files and highlight the differences, saving you time when reviewing multiple documents.

Copilot Agents: Personalised AI Assistants

Copilot Agents are another exciting addition to Wave 2. These are AI assistants that can perform specific tasks autonomously or with varying levels of human input, depending on the user’s needs.

What are Copilot Agents?

Copilot Agents are designed to help with specific tasks within Microsoft 365 applications. For example, some agents can operate independently, while others require user interaction.

Key Features of Copilot Agents

Customisable Assistance: Agents can be built using the new Agent Builder, powered by Copilot Studio, allowing users to create personalised agents for different tasks.
Integration: Agents can be summoned within apps using the “@” function, making them accessible like any other team member.

Read: Our Top 5 Tips for Copilot

The AI Models Behind Microsoft Copilot: Powering the Future of Work

A key highlight of Microsoft Copilot’s Wave 2 is the incorporation of OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-4o, which significantly enhances the performance and capabilities of Copilot. This integration marks a crucial step in Microsoft’s commitment to leveraging state-of-the-art AI technology.

GPT-4o: The AI Brain Behind Copilot

GPT-4o is one of the most advanced AI models available today, offering a major upgrade in terms of speed, reasoning, and multimodal capabilities. This model not only powers Copilot but also enhances its ability to provide quicker, more accurate responses across various Microsoft 365 applications.

Key Features of GPT-4o in Copilot

Enhanced Response Time: GPT-4o is designed to deliver responses that are over two times faster on average compared to previous models.
Improved Understanding: The AI model boasts advanced reasoning skills, allowing it to handle more complex queries with greater accuracy.
Continuous Updates: Microsoft has committed to integrating the latest models from OpenAI, including future updates like OpenAI’s o1, which offers even more sophisticated reasoning capabilities.

The Future of Microsoft Copilot: Continuous Improvement and AI Innovation

Microsoft’s investment in AI technology means that Copilot will continue to evolve, incorporating the latest advances to better serve its users. By integrating models like GPT-4o and developing new collaborative features, Copilot aims to redefine productivity and teamwork in both business and personal settings.

What’s Next for Copilot?

Expansion of AI Models: Microsoft plans to continue integrating newer and more advanced AI models, ensuring that Copilot remains at the cutting edge of technology.
Broader Application: Expect to see further integration of Copilot into other Microsoft products and services, broadening its reach and functionality.

Watch: You can see the full event from Microsoft here

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Microsoft Copilot?
A: Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant integrated within Microsoft 365 applications, designed to enhance productivity by automating tasks, providing data insights, and supporting collaboration.

Q: What is new in Microsoft Copilot’s Wave 2?
A: Wave 2 introduces several new features, including Copilot Pages, Copilot in Excel with Python, Narrative Builder in PowerPoint, and customisable Copilot Agents.

Q: How does GPT-4o improve Copilot’s performance?
A: GPT-4o enhances Copilot’s ability to understand and respond to complex queries faster and with greater accuracy, significantly improving the user experience.

Q: Can I customise Copilot Agents?
A: Yes, through the new Agent Builder in Copilot Studio, you can create tailored agents that perform specific tasks according to your needs.

Q: When will the new features be available?
A: Many of the new features, such as Copilot Pages and Copilot Agents, are rolling out now and will be available to all users in the coming weeks. Some features, like custom inbox prioritisation in Outlook, are expected in late 2024.