Microsoft 365 Copilot vs. ChatGPT

by , | Oct 18, 2024 | Microsoft 365 Copilot | 0 comments

In the fast-moving world of AI, two tools are sparking a lot of debate: ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. Both promise to make our lives easier, but which one is actually better for you? This was the heart of a recent conversation of the Team Copilot Podcast, where Femke and Jeroen explored the strengths of both platforms and how they impact real-world work.

Let’s break down their discussion and figure out which AI tool might be the best fit for your needs.

What is Microsoft Copilot, and Why Does It Matter?

Microsoft Copilot is designed to work directly within the Microsoft 365 apps you already use like Word, Excel, and Teams. The whole idea behind Copilot is to make your workday easier by pulling together information from all these apps to help you get things done faster. It can create reports, summarize long email threads, or even generate presentations with just a few prompts.

As Femke puts it, “The best thing about Copilot is how it fits into your workflow. It knows your documents, emails, and chats, which makes it super helpful for work.”

Think about it: Copilot doesn’t just answer random questions. It’s more like a personal assistant that can pull all the bits of information from your workday and organize them into something useful. Need to draft a quick update? It already knows the key points from your recent meetings and emails. That’s a time-saver.

How Does ChatGPT Stack Up?

On the flip side, ChatGPT from OpenAI is all about versatility. It’s designed for a wide range of tasks from helping you brainstorm ideas, to answering questions on nearly any topic you can think of. ChatGPT feels more like having a super-smart friend who can help you with just about anything, whether it’s giving advice on a project or helping you write a blog post (like this one!).

Jeroen explained it well: “ChatGPT is awesome for creative stuff and general problem-solving. But when it comes to work-specific tasks, it’s not as deeply integrated as Copilot.”

That’s really the key difference. ChatGPT is great when you need to be creative or tackle something outside of the usual office grind. But if you’re neck-deep in emails, reports, and meetings, it doesn’t have the same smooth connection to your work life that Copilot does. Copilot is able to respond with details out of your Teams chats, e-mails and documents. ChatGPT doesn’t have access to those.

Copilot’s Edge: Getting Work Done Without Extra Steps

One big thing that Jeroen and Femke pointed out in their podcast is how much easier it is to use Copilot if you’re already working in the Microsoft ecosystem. With Copilot, you don’t have to switch between apps or spend time uploading documents as part of your prompts. It’s already connected to everything you do at work: your emails, your Teams messages, your Excel sheets etc. So when you ask it to help with a project, it’s like it already knows where to look.

Femke summed it up nicely: “Copilot saves time because it pulls all your work-related data together. If you’re using Microsoft 365, it’s like having an assistant that’s always up to speed.”

On the other hand, if you want ChatGPT to do something similar, you’d need to manually input that information, copying emails, uploading documents, and making sure it has the context. Aside from the amount of work that it brings; this might also be a security concern as well.

ChatGPT’s Strength: A Creative, All-Purpose Assistant

While Copilot is a superstar for work-specific tasks, ChatGPT shines in its flexibility. You can ask it just about anything; whether you need help writing a story, learning something new, or even coding a quick script.

Jeroen shared his experience, saying, “I love using ChatGPT for brainstorming or quick research. It’s like having a genius friend on call whenever you need some fresh ideas.”

Because it’s so versatile, ChatGPT is perfect for when you need to think outside the box or handle tasks that don’t necessarily fit into your 9-to-5 workflow. 

 

What About Security and Privacy?

Here’s where things get serious. If you’re handling sensitive information at work, security is a top priority and this is where Copilot really pulls ahead. Since it’s part of Microsoft 365, Copilot works within your company’s security and privacy rules. All your data stays protected within your organization’s systems, which is critical if you’re dealing with confidential information.

Femke highlighted this point, saying, “With Copilot, your data is secure because it’s already inside the Microsoft environment. You don’t have to worry about it leaving your organization’s walls.”

ChatGPT, on the other hand, runs through OpenAI’s servers, which means you need to be more cautious when sharing sensitive data. While it’s great for personal use or non-confidential tasks, businesses need to be mindful of privacy risks when using it for work-related information.

 

So, Which One Should You Use?

It really depends on what you need:

  • Microsoft Copilot is your go-to if you’re working within the Microsoft ecosystem and want an AI that can help manage emails, documents, and meetings with security and ease. It’s perfect for business professionals who want to save time and streamline their workflow.

  • ChatGPT is ideal if you’re looking for a more versatile tool that can handle creative tasks, general research, or help with personal projects. It’s a fantastic all-rounder for when you need a quick answer or a creative spark.

As Jeroen put it, “If you’re already using Microsoft 365 every day, Copilot’s a no-brainer. But for everything else—especially outside of work—ChatGPT is hard to beat.”

 

Final Thoughts

Both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT are incredible tools, but they’re built for different purposes. If your day revolves around emails, meetings, and Microsoft 365 apps, Copilot is the tool that can make your life easier. On the other hand, if you need a flexible assistant that can handle everything from brainstorming to coding, ChatGPT is the one to pick.

In the end, it’s not about which tool is better—it’s about which tool is better for you. Whether you’re looking to boost productivity at work or spark creativity in your personal projects, there’s an AI tool ready to help you get there.

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