2023 was a yr of speedy development in generative AI. We picked up a brand new vocabulary—prompting, iteration, “usefully incorrect.” We lowered digital debt—that pileup of knowledge, emails, conferences, and notifications that retains us from getting actual work performed. And we obtained extra productive, artistic, and saved time—each individually and as organizations.

Alongside the best way, we realized so much about how Microsoft Copilot will change work. In a survey of our Early Access Program, 70 % of Copilot customers stated it made them extra productive, and 68 % stated it improved the standard of their work. Early customers stated Copilot helped them get their work performed faster: 85 % stated they have been in a position to get to a superb first draft quicker, and 64 % stated it helped them spend much less time processing e mail.

As a pacesetter on the heart of generative AI right here at Microsoft, Colette Stallbaumer has been studying harness the ability of Copilot alongside our clients and companions. Right here, the Basic Supervisor of Microsoft 365 & Way forward for Work shares her favourite Copilot suggestions of the previous yr.

1. Let Copilot clear up the post-meeting muddle.

Too typically, nobody outlines subsequent steps on the finish of a gathering, leaving tasks at a standstill. To maintain your work transferring ahead, ask Copilot in Microsoft Groups for a bulleted checklist of motion gadgets, together with who’s liable for every. You possibly can even ask Copilot to draft an e mail to your colleagues with the checklist to ensure everyone seems to be in control.

2. Get the chief abstract—each time.

It may well really feel unimaginable to maintain up with all of the paperwork, shows, and emails you’ll want to learn day-after-day. To get the TL;DR, ask Copilot to “clarify this doc/e mail/deck in three sentences.” In seconds, it’ll look by means of the doc, discover an important data, and provide you with a quick overview.

3. Compensate for conferences in a fraction of the time.

Double booked? We all know the sensation. If you happen to miss a gathering, ask Copilot in Groups what key factors have been mentioned. Copilot will define the vital takeaways so you may skip watching that recording on 2x velocity. And if you happen to’re operating late, simply ask Copilot, “what did I miss within the assembly to date?” to get a abstract of what’s occurred.

4. Shortly whip your deck into presentation-ready form.

You’ve created a PowerPoint presentation based mostly on an array of paperwork, emails, and spreadsheets. Within the Earlier than Occasions, you’d should undergo the deck slide by slide to ensure all the things seemed crisp and constant. Now, simply ask Copilot to “make all fonts Segoe UI” or “make all headings measurement 18-point.” Generally it’s the smallest issues that prevent beneficial time.

5. Summarize lengthy e mail threads.

If you’re getting back from break day, that mountain in your inbox can really feel like Everest. As a substitute of studying every e mail that got here by means of whilst you have been out, use Copilot to shortly summarize a protracted e mail thread by choosing “Abstract by Copilot.” It is going to scan the thread to determine key factors and ultimate selections that can assist you stand up to hurry faster. So go forward, take that PTO day—you deserve it.

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