What Can Copilot Do That ChatGPT Can’t?
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), Microsoft’s Copilot is creating quite a buzz for being more than just another digital assistant. While both Copilot and ChatGPT are powered by large language models (LLMs) and designed to facilitate communication through written prompts, they diverge significantly in capability and application. This article answers the pressing question: What can Copilot do that ChatGPT can’t? and delves into the unique features, data handling, security implications, and overall versatility of these two AI tools.
1. Copilot vs. ChatGPT: The Basics
At a surface level, both Microsoft Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT share common ground—they’re both constructed from sophisticated AI engines that enable them to interpret prompts and generate responses in text form. However, there’s a distinctive twist to this tale.
Microsoft’s Copilot is designed as an integrated tool embedded within the Microsoft 365 environment, including key applications like Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. This means Copilot can intelligently navigate organizational data, turning it into actionable insights, drafted communications, and efficient workflows that align perfectly with the company’s objectives.
On the contrary, ChatGPT operates differently. Although it can assist in drafting emails or producing reports, it lacks the essential capability to access your organization’s proprietary information directly. Users can’t and shouldn’t share sensitive internal data with ChatGPT, otherwise risk exposure to confidentiality breaches. So, while they may look similar on the surface, Copilot offers a level of internal intelligence that ChatGPT simply cannot match.
2. Datasets and Access: The Heart of Functionality
Arguably, one of the most critical areas where Copilot outshines ChatGPT is in its dataset and access to information. ChatGPT is trained on a vast collection of datasets from books, articles, websites, and other public material before cut-off at October 2021. However, it does not have access to any of your organization’s internal documentation or proprietary data—unless a security oversight occurs, which raises huge red flags.
Conversely, Copilot functions within the embrace of Microsoft’s suite of applications, integrating seamlessly with data stored in SharePoint, OneDrive, and other Microsoft 365 tools. This allows Copilot to derive context-specific responses based on live data, delivering customized insights that specifically address your organization’s needs. The ability to extract and analyze data from these resources makes Copilot a true personal assistant capable of transforming internal processes.
3. Unleashing Versatility: Copilot’s Use Cases
Microsoft Copilot shines brightly when it comes to real-world application. With its fundamental purpose of enhancing productivity, it offers an impressive array of use cases that elevate daily workflows:
- Drafting Important Communications: Just as you might ask a colleague for help, you can get Copilot to draft emails, reports, or presentations. Copilot can synthesize information and create communication that resonates with your intended audience.
- Searching for Files: Who doesn’t hate losing files amid cloud storage? Copilot allows team members to find required documents in SharePoint or OneDrive using natural language queries, thus eliminating the frustration of endless searching.
- Summarizing Conversations: In the hustle and bustle of Teams chats, it’s easy to overlook important points. Copilot scans these chats, highlights action items, and produces concise summaries to keep everyone aligned and informed.
- Analyzing Email Threads: If your inbox is exploding with feedback and requests, Copilot can summarize complicated discussions, picking out key points to guide your actions and responses.
Although ChatGPT can lend a hand in generating written content and basic coding assistance, its limitations prevent it from tapping into the wealth of information locked within your organization’s infrastructure. Thus, while its functional abilities are commendable, ChatGPT cannot replicate the degree of contextual interaction that Copilot offers.
4. Navigating Copyright Implications
When organizations leverage AI to produce content, understanding copyright is paramount, especially as it concerns the ownership of AI-generated outputs. Here’s where Copilot has a unique edge.
ChatGPT Copyright
When using ChatGPT, users face a dilemma regarding copyright ownership. Typically, any content generated by the AI may not be eligible for copyright, making it tricky to claim ownership over produced materials. Plus, given that ChatGPT’s outputs derive from previously existing texts, there’s a risk that it may inadvertently generate content that violates copyrights held by others, pushing the onus of compliance back onto the user. It’s a murky landscape…
Microsoft Copilot Copyright
Microsoft takes a different approach. While the question of whether organizations using Copilot can claim copyright for its generated content remains a gray area, Microsoft openly promises to defend its users against potential copyright infringement claims stemming from Copilot’s work. This assurance provides comfort to organizations, as it mitigates some of the risks associated with AI-generated content that OpenAI users would need to navigate alone.
5. Factual Reliability: Who Gets It Right?
Both Copilot and ChatGPT grapple with factual inaccuracies due to the inherent limitations in AI. While they strive for accuracy, neither can profess to be a flawless source of information.
ChatGPT has drawn criticism for producing misinformation, whether it’s falsely attributing quotes or generating errors in mathematics. The AI, after all, doesn’t truly “know” facts like a human does. It merely generates responses based on patterns learned from data. This shortcoming extends to Copilot as well. As Microsoft acknowledges, “Copilot is designed to provide accurate answers based on the context and data available.” Nevertheless, it’s not immune to making mistakes or delivering misleading information.
In both cases, the take-home message is clear—approaching AI outputs with a critical eye is essential. Infusing human oversight is prudent, as neither tool can serve as a definitive source of truth.
6. Cybersecurity Entrapments: Making Safe Choices
As organizations inch closer to adopting AI tools, cybersecurity considerations become essential. The fact that ChatGPT should not (and cannot) access internal data inherently safeguards organizations. Yet, that doesn’t mean it’s risk-free—it still processes unstructured inputs that users provide. For companies that haven’t established rigorous cybersecurity policies, the use of ChatGPT can inadvertently lead to sensitive data leaks.
On the flip side, Microsoft has designed Copilot with security at its core, maintaining a fortress around proprietary information. With its integration into the Microsoft 365 environment, Copilot ensures data security through a stringent authentication process and encrypts communications. As a result, organizations can reap the benefits of AI while minimizing risks associated with data breaches, unauthorized access, and compliance violations.
Conclusion: The AI Decision-Making Landscape
In navigating the AI landscape, understanding the distinctions between tools like Copilot and ChatGPT is crucial for making informed decisions in your organization. If you’re looking for a personalized assistant that comprehends the nuances of your proprietary data, Microsoft Copilot is a clear winner. It’s capable of enhancing productivity by providing actionable insights and facilitating secure communication.
ChatGPT, while highly efficient for generating broad responses or drafting content, lacks the in-built safety measures necessary to manage internal information securely. The potential for copyright complications and inaccuracies that accompany its use can create pitfalls for unprepared users.
Ultimately, your choice of AI tool should align with your organization’s needs, defined by productivity objectives, security requirements, and ethical considerations. So whether you’re hopping on board the Copilot train or exploring the vast plains of ChatGPT, understanding their unique attributes will empower you to utilize these tools effectively and responsibly.
Watch our NEW video at the end—How Business AI Brings Productivity Wins and Cyber Risks.