Microsoft 365 Subscribers Now Have Access to OneDrive’s Copilot Feature
Price Increase and New Features in Microsoft 365
In January 2023, Microsoft raised the prices of its Microsoft 365 subscription for consumers. To help offset this increase, the company has introduced a variety of AI-powered features, known as Copilot, to its Office applications. Notably, Copilot has now expanded its capabilities to OneDrive on the web.
AI Capabilities in OneDrive
Microsoft 365 subscribers can now leverage Copilot to enhance their productivity within OneDrive. Here’s how these features can benefit users:
1. Document Summarization
One of the most impactful features is the ability to generate summaries for documents. Users can request a concise summary for a single document or even multiple ones, up to five at a time. This feature is particularly useful for quickly understanding the main points of lengthy texts without having to read through each document in detail.
2. Comparison of Documents
Another significant benefit is the document comparison functionality. Users can choose between two to five documents and ask Copilot to highlight the differences. The assistant presents these differences in an easy-to-read table format, making it straightforward to see variations in:
- Date and Time
- Title
- Author
- Content Summary
- Last Modified Information
- Location
- Key Participants
This feature facilitates efficient document review and helps users understand how different files relate to one another.
3. Answering Questions About Files
Users can click on a file within OneDrive and pose questions about its content. For instance, one could ask about the ingredients in a specific recipe contained in a document. This interactivity is designed to simplify the retrieval of information, allowing users to get answers quickly without scrolling through entire files.
Who Can Access These Features?
Initially, these Copilot features were limited to users with work or school accounts. However, Microsoft has now made them available to personal users subscribed to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plans. This democratization of access allows everyday consumers to take advantage of advanced AI tools.
Supported File Types and Limitations
Currently, the AI features in OneDrive support a variety of text-based file formats, including:
- Office Documents
- Fluid
- Loop
- TXT
- RTF
- Web Files
- OpenDocument Formats
In the future, Microsoft has announced plans to extend support to additional formats, including images, videos, meeting recordings, and OneNote notebooks. However, there are some limitations to keep in mind: the maximum file size for summarization, comparison, and querying is capped at 150MB. Microsoft also intends to increase this limit over time, enhancing usability for larger files.
AI Credits and Copilot Pro
It’s important for users to be aware that each interaction with AI in Microsoft 365 consumes AI credits, which are replenished monthly. For those who frequently use these features and find their credits running low, subscribing to Copilot Pro offers unlimited access to Copilot functionalities, ensuring that users can continue to benefit from AI assistance without interruption.
Learn More
For additional details on how to utilize Copilot for OneDrive on the web, users can refer to the official Microsoft support documentation. This resource provides comprehensive guidance on maximizing the benefits of AI features within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
