Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently been at the forefront of transforming business operations around the world by enhancing efficiency, improving decision-making, and enabling innovative solutions. Driven by these benefits, AI is expected to record an annual growth rate of 37.3% from 2023 to 2030, according to a study by Grand View Research.

Two of the most popular AI tools being used today are ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. As generative AI platforms, they can produce high-quality text, imagery, and synthetic data in response to a user’s prompt or instructions. While these might sound like simple tasks, did you know that these tools can also help you improve your business’s operations?

In this blog, we will take a closer look into what ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are, and the specific ways they can help your business thrive.

What is ChatGPT?

Launched in November of 2022, ChatGPT is a chatbot and virtual assistant developed by AI research and deployment company OpenAI. Thanks to its natural language processing (NLP) technology, ChatGPT can have human-like conversations to answer any questions and help with tasks such as composing emails, generating code, solving mathematical problems, and simplifying complex topics.

ChatGPT is currently free to use. The platform, however, also has a paid tier called ChatGPT Plus that guarantees users faster response times, improved availability, and priority access to new features like OpenAI’s newest large language model (LLM) GPT-4o and image generation technology DALL-E 3.

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Initially introduced as Bing Chat back in February 2023, Copilot is a chatbot that allows you to search for certain information, generate text such as summaries and emails, and produce images based on text prompts.

As of June 2024, there are three licenses of Copilot available to the public:

- Free: This Copilot version is available to those using Windows 10 or 11, the Microsoft Edge web browser, or the Bing search engine. It is ideal for small businesses and general users that don’t require highly specific or detailed responses.

- Pro: Aimed at power users, Copilot Pro offers accelerated performance, priority AI access, and faster image creation. It also provides access to Copilot in Word, Excel, and other Microsoft apps.

- Microsoft 365 Copilot: This version is available as an add-on for the Office apps (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) in Microsoft 365. It provides specific and detailed answers by drawing on an organisation’s data and other internal sources.

How Can You Make ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot Work for Your Business?

There are many ways that ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot can become your secret weapon for streamlining workflows, saving resources, and improving business growth:

ChatGPT

Data Analytics

ChatGPT can help businesses interpret data, generate reports, and uncover insights, making data analysis more accessible to a wider audience. It can also help identify patterns and trends in data sets.

For instance, if you tell ChatGPT to “Analyse the sales data from the last quarter and identify the top five best-selling products,” it will quickly process the information you have provided and generate a report highlighting these products.

Content Creation

ChatGPT can help users overcome writer’s block by generating initial blog post outlines, product descriptions, landing page content, and marketing copy. This frees up time to refine and personalise the content with the organisation’s brand voice and expertise.

It can also assist in creating HR content, such as training materials, employee handbooks, and internal communications.

Research

Companies can simplify their research process by using ChatGPT to summarise articles, answering questions, and producing insights from vast amounts of data. This allows teams to focus on strategic decision-making and innovation.

Customer Support

Businesses can use ChatGPT to draft replies to customers’ inquiries, automate responses for common issues, and develop frequently asked questions (FAQs). This ensures that they can promptly assist customers and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.

Language Translation

Finally, ChatGPT can help businesses overcome language barriers in today’s increasingly globalised business world. By integrating the tool into their operations, companies can gain access to real-time, accurate translations that can help them collaborate better with people around the world.

Microsoft Copilot

Meeting Recaps

Copilot on Teams has a Recap feature that generates meeting notes, recommended tasks, and personalised highlights to help users get the most important information, even if they weren’t able to attend a meeting.

This feature has proven invaluable for AmBank project manager Rozidatul Akmal Kamil. “Copilot on Teams is one of my favorite features. The recap function has helped me save about 40% of the time I usually spend on minute-taking,” they said. “This liberates users, including myself, from mundane tasks; allowing us to focus on more strategic and impactful work.”

Document Summaries

In Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage service, you can use Copilot to generate summaries of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files. The tool can also answer questions based on the contents of those files without the need to open them one by one. What’s more, you can use Copilot to generate suggestions and FAQs.

Content Creation

Copilot can also be used in applications like Word and PowerPoint for content creation. For example, Word has a Draft with Copilot feature that generates content based on a prompt like “Create a paragraph about the importance of teamwork,” or “Write two paragraphs about time management.” You can even attach files to your Copilot prompt to provide additional context or reference material.

Copilot on PowerPoint, on the other hand, can help you produce a presentation based on a text prompt, an existing Word or PDF document. It can also generate presentation summary and transform a Word file into a presentation.

Data Visualisation

Copilot can transform raw data into insightful charts and graphs through data visualisations in Excel. This makes it easier to interpret data and present findings in a visually appealing way.

Email Management

Copilot can assist with managing emails by drafting responses, organising the inbox, and setting follow-up reminders. This ensures that all important communications are managed efficiently and promptly.

How Can You Get Started with ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot for Your Business?

If you’re looking to deepen your knowledge on these two AI tools, here are some things you can do:

- Find online resources: Read articles, watch tutorials, and join webinars to understand the capabilities and business applications of ChatGPT and Copilot.

- Participate in AI communities: Join forums and online communities where you can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from other AI users.

- Talk to the experts: Have a chat with AI consultants or service providers that offer personalised AI advice and implementation strategies for your business.

- Attend industry conferences: Join AI-focused conferences and events in your area to know the latest trends and connect with professionals.

It’s also a great idea to enrol in courses that offer in-depth training on using AI tools in business. Nexacu offers the following AI courses:

- ChatGPT Beginner: Gain practical, hands-on experience using ChatGPT within a business environment.

- Copilot for Microsoft 365: Learn to generate content and gain insights to improve efficiency across Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Are you a manager or business leader? We have courses tailored for you too:

- AI for Business Leaders and Managers: Designed with managers and team leaders in mind, this course provides the knowledge and skills to leverage AI in various business contexts and operations.

Ready to embrace the power of AI? Enquire with us on the course now.