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Microsoft has launched its new Microsoft Copilot Studio. This low-code tool allows users to customise the Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 and construct standalone copilots. The Copilot Studio is part of Copilot for Microsoft 365 and amalgamates numerous advanced conversational features, from custom GPTs and generative AI plugins to manual topics. It enables users to facilitate easy modifications of Copilot for Microsoft 365 with their distinct enterprise scenarios, quickly construct, test, and publish standalone copilots and custom GPTs, and manage and secure their customisations and standalone copilots with right access, data, user controls and analytics.
Users of Copilot Studio can manage the entire life cycle of customisations and standalone copilots within a single pane of glass, which includes the building, deployment, analysis, and management aspects. Being a software as a service, anything users create is live instantly. This suite is built on the foundations of Power Virtual Agents and other Microsoft Power Platform technologies and is intended to suffice the needs of both IT professionals and makers.
Integration with a host of Microsoft conversational AI technologies makes Copilot Studio a powerful tool for users. These include Microsoft Azure OpenAI Studio, Azure Cognitive Services, and Azure Bot Service. The tool is available to the users from this point, and its integration with Copilot for Microsoft 365 is available in public preview.
Early adopters of Copilot for Microsoft 365 have found it to be an effective tool in enhancing productivity, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment. The ability to customise Copilot for specific enterprise scenarios and connect it to various systems of record, ranging from customer relationship management and enterprise resource planning to human resources, has also been appreciated. "Users can simply ask Copilot questions such as 'What is my vacation balance?' or 'Do I have any expenses to submit?' due to this feature," explained Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President, Modern Work & Business Applications.
Moreover, creating and publishing a plugin directly to Copilot for Microsoft 365 is a fast and simple process with Copilot Studio. It uses a drag-and-drop low-code approach that includes logic and data connectivity, allowing questions to be answered based on the business's data and processes. The intuitive graphical builder can connect to backend APIs and actions, generate custom GPTs, build generative responses over enterprise knowledge, and expose these capabilities into Copilot with just a few clicks.
There is also the exciting potential to integrate OpenAI's services. In the near future, users will be able to build their own bespoke GPTs within Copilot Studio. This will provide a new method for anyone to build a tailored version of ChatGPT, making it more task-specific and helpful.
Creating standalone customised copilots is another significant feature of Copilot Studio. IT professionals can create and publish copilots that cater to specific roles and functions, such as an IT support copilot or a sales team copilot to help complete RFPs. These standalone copilots can be effortlessly published to various channels, ranging from internal and external websites to Microsoft Teams and mobile apps.
Governance and control features are incorporated within Copilot Studio, allowing IT to centrally monitor usage and analytics. Admins can also manage the maker and user access, secure data using company-based policies, and manage environments within the admin centre. This integrated platform enables full visibility and control over both Copilot for Microsoft 365 customisations and standalone copilots, thereby ensuring a seamless user experience.
