Bite sized Microsoft 365

In my previous blog post on Copilot Zero to Copilot Hero, I explored the concept of Copilot and its functionalities.

Let’s dive deeper into the core components of Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. Buckle up, because we’re about to explore the fascinating world of AI, language models, and productivity!

1. Large Language Models (LLMs)

At the heart of Copilot lies a powerful AI called a Large Language Model (LLM). Imagine LLMs as brainy text wizards that can understand and generate human-like language. They’ve been trained on massive amounts of text data, learning grammar, context, and even nuances.

Think of LLMs as your trusty sidekick, ready to assist you in writing emails, coding, or creating documents. They’re like the Hermione Granger of the AI world—knowledgeable, quick-witted, and always there when you need them.

Copilot leverages LLMs to provide code suggestions, answer questions, and offer relevant content. These models are essential for understanding user prompts and generating accurate, context-aware replies.

2. Natural Language Processing (NLP)

NLP is Copilot’s secret sauce. It’s the magic that allows Copilot to understand and interpret human language. When you type a sentence, NLP kicks into action. It processes the text, identifies patterns, and extracts meaning. It’s like Copilot’s language comprehension superpower!

NLP isn’t just about understanding words; it’s about grasping context. Imagine you’re writing a Python function, and you mention “pandas.” NLP knows you’re talking about the data manipulation library, not the cute bear. It’s like having an AI friend who gets your inside jokes and finishes your sentences.

By understanding syntax, semantics, and context, Copilot ensures that its suggestions align with the user’s intent. Whether you’re writing an email or coding, NLP helps Copilot assist you effectively.

3. Microsoft Graph

Microsoft Graph is like a bridge that connects all your Microsoft 365 services and data.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 uses Microsoft Graph to gather and search content from various sources within your tenant.

The Microsoft Graph API adds more context to the prompt by pulling in user signals from emails, chats, documents, and meetings. This data comes from services like Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, and more.

Microsoft Graph collects this information so that users don’t have to switch apps or navigate away. It allows Copilot for Microsoft 365 to bring the relevant information to the user. In doing so, Copilot for Microsoft 365 considers Microsoft 365 user permissions, data security, and compliance policies.

It only generates responses based on the information the user is allowed to access.

4. Microsoft 365 Apps Integration

Copilot seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365 apps, making it a valuable companion for your daily tasks. Let’s explore how it works with specific apps:

Word: Copilot assists with writing, suggesting phrases, and improving grammar.

Excel: It can generate formulas, charts, and pivot tables.

Outlook: Copilot helps compose emails and provides relevant information from your mailbox.

PowerPoint: It suggests slide content and layouts.

Teams: Copilot assists with chat messages, meeting notes, and collaborative documents.

5. Microsoft Copilot (Chat)

Now, let’s talk about the chat interface—the beating heart of Copilot. When you chat with Copilot, you’re interacting with the brainchild of LLMs, NLP, and the Microsoft Graph. It’s where the magic happens.

Whether you’re brainstorming, coding, or drafting a proposal, Copilot is there, ready to assist. It’s like having a friendly AI companion who doesn’t judge your typos or your love for cat GIFs.

6. Graph-Grounded Chat

Copilot’s chat isn’t just any chat; it’s graph-grounded. What does that mean? Well, it’s like Copilot has a backstage pass to your work universe. It uses the context from your documents, conversations, and data to provide personalized recommendations.

Imagine you’re writing a legal brief. Copilot knows the legal jargon, cites relevant cases, and even suggests elegant phrasing. It’s like having a legal scholar by your side, minus the dusty old books.

In summary, Microsoft Copilot is your AI co-pilot, armed with LLMs, NLP, and Graph insights. It’s the Jarvis to your Tony Stark, making work smoother, smarter, and surprisingly delightful. So next time you chat with Copilot, remember—you’re not alone; you’ve got an AI wingman!

Architecture of Copilot and how it works

User Prompt and Copilot Interaction:

• The process begins with a user prompt in any of the Microsoft 365 (M365) apps.
• Copilot prompts are instructions or questions that users provide to guide Copilot’s actions.
• These prompts can be customized to specify what the user wants.
• More details on prompts will be covered later.

Grounding Process:

• Copilot acts as an orchestrator and pre-processes the user prompt through a step called grounding.
• Grounding aims to improve the quality of the prompt, ensuring that the generated answers are relevant.
• During grounding, Copilot makes a call to Microsoft Graph.
• Microsoft Graph retrieves business content and context while respecting per-user access permissions.
• Copilot generates responses based on the information accessible to the user.

Default Prompts and User Prompts:

• Microsoft 365 includes default prompts used for interactions.
• Copilot combines the default prompt with the user’s input.
• Additional information gathered during grounding is also included.
• The resulting extended prompt is then sent to the language model (LLM) for generating a response.

Response Generation:

• Copilot sends the modified prompt to the LLM.
• The LLM generates the response based on the combined prompt.
• Copilot post-processes the LLM’s response.
• Additional grounding calls are made to Microsoft Graph for responsible AI checks, security, compliance, and privacy reviews.
• Copilot then sends the response back to the user and the commands back to the app

Secure Communication:

All requests between Copilot and external services are encrypted via HTTPS.

That’s all for now, I know many of you may be thinking that I am leaving you with the thoughts that may give you sleepless nights. Thoughts like “Is this transaction secure, compliant and respects responsible AI? Is our company data secretly training the LLM? Does Microsoft dial up the Matrix for external calls?”
“How do we level up our prompt game? What’s the secret sauce for better prompts?”

Fear not, wait for my future blogs. And remember, when in doubt, chant: “All is well!” because with Copilot yes, all is really well!