Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Copilot Resource Hub

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat can help UNC System Office employees draft, summarize, brainstorm, organize information, and think through everyday work tasks. It is a work support tool, not a replacement for employee judgment, review, or System Office guidance.

What is Copilot Chat?

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a chat-based AI experience available to eligible UNC System Office employees through their Microsoft work account. It allows you to ask questions, request drafts, summarize appropriate content, brainstorm ideas, create outlines, and think through next steps based on the information you provide in the chat.

Copilot Chat works best when you give it a clear task, appropriate context, an intended audience, and a specific output format. Employees remain responsible for deciding whether responses are accurate, appropriate, complete, and ready to use.

Start with appropriate information

Do not enter, paste, upload, or expose Tier 3 data in AI tools. Copilot Chat does not replace data classification, access controls, or institutional review. When you are unsure whether information is appropriate to use, pause and ask before proceeding.

What Copilot Chat is — and is not

A work support tool

Copilot Chat can help you move faster on everyday work tasks by supporting drafting, summarizing, outlining, idea generation, and explanations based on prompts you provide.

Use it for: Support, organization, and first-pass thinking.

Not a final authority

Copilot Chat may provide incomplete, outdated, or incorrect responses depending on the prompt and context. It should not be treated as a final source for important facts, policies, figures, or decisions.

You remain responsible for: Review, verification, and final use.

What You Can Do with Copilot Chat

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat can support everyday work tasks when used as a thinking, drafting, summarizing, and organizing assistant based on the information you provide.

Start with practical, low-risk tasks

Copilot Chat can help you get started, improve a draft, summarize appropriate information you provide, prepare for a meeting, or think through next steps. You remain responsible for reviewing outputs and deciding whether they are accurate, appropriate, and ready to use.

Common ways to use Copilot Chat

1. Draft work materials

Create starting drafts for emails, announcements, talking points, project updates, outlines, or plain-language explanations using details you provide.

Try: Draft a short internal email to [audience] explaining [topic]. Use a professional, clear, and helpful tone.

2. Improve an existing draft

Revise text to make it clearer, shorter, more polished, or better aligned with the intended audience.

Try: Rewrite this message to be clearer and more concise. Do not add new facts.

3. Summarize appropriate information

Summarize public webpages, approved documents, long passages, or other content that is appropriate for AI use and that you provide in the chat.

Try: Summarize this text into five key points. Then list action items, open questions, and assumptions.

4. Brainstorm ideas and options

Generate ideas, questions, project options, training topics, communication approaches, or possible next steps.

Try: Give me 10 practical ideas for [task]. Include one benefit and one limitation for each.

5. Organize work

Turn loose ideas into checklists, agendas, draft timelines, project outlines, review questions, or decision notes.

Try: Create a practical checklist for [task]. Group it into before, during, and after steps.

6. Prepare for meetings

Draft agendas, prepare talking points, identify stakeholder questions, or outline follow-up notes and messages.

Try: Help me prepare for a meeting about [topic]. Create an agenda, five questions, and follow-up notes.

7. Explain concepts plainly

Ask Copilot Chat to explain unfamiliar concepts, technical terms, or dense language in a simpler way.

Try: Explain [concept] in plain language for a non-technical employee. Include one practical example.

8. Get unstuck

Use Copilot Chat to clarify where to begin, what questions need answers, or what information may be missing.

Try: I need to work on [task], but I am not sure where to start. Ask me up to five clarifying questions.

Use judgment before you use the output

Copilot Chat can help you work faster and think more clearly, but it is not a final authority. Review outputs carefully, verify important information, and do not enter, paste, upload, or expose Tier 3 data in AI tools.

Copilot Chat access at the System Office

At the UNC System Office, Copilot is provided as Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. It is a chat-based work assistant and is not the full Microsoft 365 Copilot experience with in‑app automation.

What this means for System Office employees

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is the AI experience available to System Office employees through an approved Microsoft work account. It can help with drafting, summarizing, brainstorming, organizing information, and thinking through everyday work tasks.

Copilot Chat does not provide full, built‑in Copilot features inside Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook unless explicitly stated by IT.

Important distinction

Seeing references to “Copilot” in Microsoft documentation or marketing materials does not mean those features are available at the System Office. Use only the access methods and capabilities described in this resource and confirmed by IT.

Where you can access Copilot Chat

Microsoft Teams

Copilot Chat is available in Microsoft Teams, through a local system installation or web app, where employees can ask questions, draft content, summarize appropriate information, and think through work tasks.

Best for: Everyday work support, drafting, brainstorming, summarizing, and follow‑up preparation.

Microsoft Edge

Copilot Chat may be accessed through Microsoft Edge. Some employees may see the licensed work version of Copilot Chat, while others may see the standard Edge Copilot experience with more limited capabilities.

Best for: Asking questions, summarizing appropriate public content, and drafting based on user‑provided context.

How to approach Copilot Chat at the System Office

Use your approved UNC System Office Microsoft work account.
Use Copilot Chat as a support tool, not a final authority.
Start with low‑risk tasks such as drafting, outlining, brainstorming, or summarizing approved content.
Do not assume Copilot has access to your files, email, calendar, or documents.
Do not enter, paste, upload, or expose Tier 3 data.
Ask IT or the appropriate support contact if you are unsure about approved use.

Remember

Copilot Chat availability and behavior may change as Microsoft updates its products. This page reflects the current Copilot Chat access approved for the UNC System Office.

Prompt Examples

A prompt is the instruction you give to Copilot Chat. Effective prompts are clear, specific, and include enough context for Copilot Chat to understand what you need.

A simple prompt formula

A helpful prompt usually states the task, provides appropriate context, identifies the intended audience or tone, and asks for a specific format.

Task

What should Copilot Chat help you do?

Context

What background information is appropriate to include?

Audience

Who is this for, and how should it sound?

Format

What should the response look like?

Try this structure:

Help me [task]. The context is [brief context]. The audience is [audience]. Use a [tone] tone. Provide the response as [format].

Practical prompt examples

Drafting an email with a specific tone

Example prompt: “Draft a short internal email to System Office staff about an upcoming deadline. The audience is busy employees. Use a professional, clear, and supportive tone. Include a subject line and bullet points.”

Creating content for slides

Example prompt: “Help me create slide content for a short presentation about [topic]. The audience is non‑technical staff. Provide slide titles and 3–4 bullet points per slide.”

Breaking down a complex project

Example prompt:

Responsible Use

Copilot Chat can support everyday work tasks, but employees remain responsible for protecting institutional data, reviewing outputs, and following System Office guidance.

Use Copilot Chat with judgment

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat can help with drafting, summarizing, brainstorming, planning, and explaining information. It is intended to support your work, not replace judgment or decision-making.

Review outputs carefully before relying on them, sharing them, or using them in a document, decision, communication, or work product.

Core data reminder

Do not enter, paste, upload, or expose Tier 3 data in AI tools. When you are unsure whether information is appropriate to use with Copilot Chat, pause and ask before proceeding.

Responsible-use checklist

Check the data

Before using Copilot Chat, confirm that the information is appropriate for AI use and does not include Tier 3 data.

Ask: Would this information be appropriate to use with an approved AI tool under System Office guidance?

Use the right account

Use your UNC System Office Microsoft work account. Do not use a personal Microsoft account for System Office work.

Check: Confirm the account shown in the profile menu before entering work-related prompts.

Limit what you share

Provide only the information Copilot Chat needs to help with the task. Remove unnecessary names, identifiers, sensitive details, and restricted information.

Tip: Use summaries, placeholders, or generalized descriptions when exact details are not needed.

Review the output

Copilot Chat can make mistakes, miss context, or produce wording that needs revision. Review all outputs before using them.

Check: Accuracy, tone, completeness, assumptions, and whether the response is appropriate to share.

Verify important facts

Do not rely on Copilot Chat as the only source for important facts, decisions, policies, figures, deadlines, or requirements.

Use: Official System Office sources, Microsoft documentation, approved records, or subject matter experts.

Ask when unsure

If you are unsure whether a use case, file, prompt, or data type is appropriate, pause before using Copilot Chat.

Next step: Ask [insert support, security, or data governance contact] for guidance.

Good responsible-use habits

Use your approved Microsoft work account.
Start with low-risk tasks such as drafting, outlining, brainstorming, or summarizing approved content.
Keep prompts clear and limited to what Copilot Chat needs.
Remove sensitive or unnecessary details before prompting.
Review and verify outputs before using them.
Ask for guidance when data classification or appropriate use is unclear.

Remember

Copilot Chat can help you work more efficiently, but you are responsible for the final work product. Apply human judgment, protect institutional data, and follow System Office guidance.

Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Apps

Copilot Chat may appear in Microsoft 365 experiences such as the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, Edge, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, or Teams. Available features can vary based on licensing, app availability, Microsoft updates, and UNC System Office configuration.

What this means for System Office employees

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is the chat-based Copilot experience available to eligible System Office employees through their Microsoft work account. It can help you ask questions, draft content, summarize appropriate information, brainstorm ideas, and organize work.

Some Microsoft 365 apps may show a Copilot button, pane, or entry point. What Copilot can do inside a specific app depends on your license, the app version, and how Microsoft has made the feature available to your account.

Important distinction

Seeing Copilot Chat inside a Microsoft 365 app does not necessarily mean you have the full Microsoft 365 Copilot experience for that app. Use this page as general guidance and follow any UNC System Office licensing or access instructions provided by IT.

Common places you may see Copilot Chat

Microsoft 365 Copilot app

Use the Microsoft 365 Copilot app as a central place to access Copilot Chat, ask questions, draft content, summarize appropriate information, and organize ideas.

Best for: General chat, drafting, brainstorming, summarizing, and everyday work support.

Microsoft Edge

Copilot Chat may be available from Microsoft Edge, where it can support web-based research, summarizing public or appropriate content, and drafting from approved context.

Best for: Asking questions, summarizing appropriate web content, and comparing public information.

Outlook

Copilot Chat may help you work with email and calendar content, depending on your account, license, and available Outlook experience.

Best for: Drafting messages, preparing follow-ups, and organizing communication using appropriate context.

Word

Copilot Chat may appear in Word as a chat-based experience for asking questions, drafting, revising, summarizing, or working with appropriate document context.

Best for: Drafting text, improving clarity, summarizing approved content, and checking organization.

Excel

Copilot Chat may help you ask questions about appropriate spreadsheet content or think through analysis steps, depending on your available Excel experience.

Best for: Explaining formulas, planning analysis, organizing questions, and summarizing approved spreadsheet information.

PowerPoint

Copilot Chat may support presentation planning, outline development, slide text drafting, or summarizing appropriate content for a presentation.

Best for: Creating outlines, simplifying slide text, preparing speaker notes, and organizing presentation ideas.

How to approach app-based Copilot features

Use your UNC System Office Microsoft work account.
Start with low-risk tasks such as drafting, summarizing appropriate content, outlining, or brainstorming.
Do not assume every Copilot feature shown in Microsoft documentation is available in your account.
Review outputs carefully before using them in work products.
Do not enter, paste, upload, or expose Tier 3 data in AI tools.
Ask IT or the appropriate support contact if you are unsure whether a feature is approved or available.

Remember

Copilot Chat availability and behavior may change as Microsoft updates its products. This page should be reviewed periodically and adjusted to reflect current UNC System Office licensing, configuration, and approved guidance.

PDF Guides

Downloadable guides can help employees learn Copilot Chat at their own pace. These resources are intended to support practical, responsible, and appropriate use at the UNC System Office.

Use these guides as quick references

Each guide focuses on a specific part of using Copilot Chat: getting started, writing better prompts, choosing appropriate use cases, reviewing outputs, and protecting institutional data.

Replace the placeholder links below with the final approved PDF URLs after the documents are reviewed, uploaded, and approved for publication.

Before downloading or sharing

These guides should be reviewed and approved before publication. Confirm that links, support contacts, access instructions, and data-use guidance match current UNC System Office expectations.

Available guides

Copilot Chat Quick Start Guide

A beginner-friendly guide to what Copilot Chat is, how to access it, and how to begin with practical, low-risk tasks.

Best for: Employees who are new to Copilot Chat and want a simple starting point.

Open PDF Guide

Prompting Basics for Copilot Chat

A practical guide to writing clear prompts using task, context, audience, tone, and format.

Best for: Employees who want better results from Copilot Chat without learning technical prompt engineering.

Open PDF Guide

Responsible Use and Data Safety Guide

A guide to using Copilot Chat carefully, protecting institutional data, and avoiding inappropriate data entry.

Best for: Employees who need a clear reminder of what to check before using AI tools.

Open PDF Guide

Everyday Use Cases for Copilot Chat

A scenario-based guide showing practical ways Copilot Chat can support drafting, summarizing, planning, brainstorming, and meeting preparation.

Best for: Employees who want examples of useful, appropriate ways to start.

Open PDF Guide

Copilot Output Review Checklist

A short checklist for reviewing Copilot Chat outputs before using them in emails, documents, decisions, or work products.

Best for: Employees who want a quick final check before using AI-assisted content.

Open PDF Guide

Copilot Chat FAQ

A plain-language reference answering common questions about access, use cases, limitations, data safety, and where to get help.

Best for: Employees who want quick answers without reading the full resource hub.

Open PDF Guide

Reminder

Do not publish downloadable guides until content, links, ownership, and responsible-use language have been reviewed. Keep the guides updated as Microsoft features, licensing, or UNC System Office guidance changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions address common things employees may want to know before using Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat at the UNC System Office.

Start with the basics

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a chat-based AI experience that can help with everyday work such as drafting, summarizing, brainstorming, planning, and explaining information.

This FAQ is written for System Office employees using Copilot Chat through an approved Microsoft work account. Features may vary based on licensing, app availability, Microsoft updates, and UNC System Office configuration.

Data reminder

Do not enter, paste, upload, or expose Tier 3 data in AI tools. If you are unsure whether information is appropriate to use with Copilot Chat, pause and ask before proceeding.

Common questions

What is Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat?

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a chat-based AI experience for work that can help you draft, summarize, brainstorm, organize information, explain concepts, and think through everyday tasks.

Remember: It is an assistant. Employees remain responsible for reviewing outputs, verifying important information, and following System Office guidance.

Is this the same as full Microsoft 365 Copilot?

No, not necessarily. Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is the chat-based experience available to eligible users. Full Microsoft 365 Copilot may include deeper app-based capabilities depending on licensing, app availability, Microsoft updates, and UNC System Office configuration.

Use caution: Do not assume every Copilot feature shown in Microsoft documentation or training materials is available in your account.

Which account should I use?

Use your approved UNC System Office Microsoft work account. Do not use a personal Microsoft account for System Office work.

Check: Before entering work-related prompts, confirm the account shown in the Microsoft profile menu.

Can I use Tier 3 data?

No. Do not enter, paste, upload, or expose Tier 3 data in AI tools.

Be careful and mindful of what is shared regarding Tier 2 data.

When unsure: Pause and ask for guidance before using the information in Copilot Chat.

What kinds of tasks are appropriate?

Appropriate starting points include drafting, rewriting, summarizing approved content, brainstorming, creating outlines, planning next steps, preparing meeting agendas, explaining concepts in plain language, and reviewing drafts for clarity and tone.

Start low-risk: Use general, public, or approved information when learning how Copilot Chat works.

Can Copilot Chat make mistakes?

Yes. AI-generated outputs can be incomplete, inaccurate, outdated, overly confident, or missing important context.

Review carefully: Verify important facts, dates, policies, figures, requirements, and other important information before using the output.

Can I upload files?

File-related capabilities may vary by account, license, app, and configuration. Only upload or use files that are appropriate for Copilot Chat and approved for AI use.

Do not upload: Files containing Tier 3 data or information that should not be exposed to AI tools. When unsure, ask before proceeding.

Can I use Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint?

You may see Copilot Chat or Copilot entry points in Microsoft 365 apps. Available features may vary based on licensing, app version, app availability, Microsoft updates, and System Office configuration.

Important: Seeing Copilot in an app does not always mean you have the full Microsoft 365 Copilot experience or full app-level Copilot features for that app.

Will Copilot Chat replace my judgment?

No. Copilot Chat can support your work, but it does not replace employee judgment, subject matter expertise, supervisor review, or approved System Office processes.

You are responsible for: The final content, decision, communication, or work product.

Where do I get help?

For access issues, feature availability, or questions about approved use, contact the appropriate UNC System Office support channel.

Placeholder: [insert approved IT, security, data governance, or support contact]

Quick before-you-use checklist

Am I signed in with my approved System Office Microsoft work account?
Is this task appropriate for Copilot Chat?
Have I removed sensitive or unnecessary information?
Am I avoiding Tier 3 data?
Will I review and verify the output before using it?
Do I need to ask for guidance before proceeding?

Final reminder

Copilot Chat can help you work more efficiently, but it should be used carefully. Protect institutional data, verify important information, and follow UNC System Office guidance.

Questions about Copilot Chat?