Microsoft’s Strategy for Generating GenAI Profits: Maximizing Customer Revenue
Microsoft 365’s Copilot: Debunking the Myths
The Disappearance of Smart Lookup and Researcher
Recently, there has been significant discussion about some valuable tools within Microsoft 365, namely Smart Lookup and Researcher. These features were widely recognized as part of Microsoft Word’s functionality, helping users efficiently gather and incorporate quality information into their documents. However, during a recent update to an article, I discovered that both features have been removed. Upon further investigation, it became clear that Microsoft has replaced these tools with a new option called Copilot. The company has stated that Copilot makes Smart Lookup and Researcher unnecessary, but this claim deserves closer examination.
The Cost of Copilot
One of the first issues that stand out is the cost associated with Copilot. For businesses and educational institutions wishing to take advantage of this feature, there is a charge of $30 per user per month. This price point raises questions about the value for users who previously relied on the free capabilities of Smart Lookup and Researcher. Essentially, former features that were integral to the Microsoft 365 experience are now locked behind a paywall, which contradicts the original accessibility that users appreciated.
The Limitations of Copilot
Despite its claims of enhanced capabilities, Copilot falls short in several key areas compared to its predecessors.
Web Search Capabilities
While Copilot does offer web searching, it does not specialize in high-quality, vetted sources unlike Researcher, which exclusively pulls from academic journals and recognized publications. Consequently, this can lead to inconsistencies in the reliability and credibility of the information.
Citation Challenges
Another significant drawback is Copilot’s inability to embed properly formatted citations into documents. This feature was an essential aspect of Researcher, allowing users to maintain academic integrity with ease. With Copilot’s basic web search, users are left to manually handle citations, making the process more cumbersome.
User Experience
Furthermore, the user interface with Copilot is less intuitive than that of Smart Lookup. The original tool allowed users to highlight text and automatically conduct a web search, streamlining the research process. However, Copilot does not facilitate this simple action, making information retrieval less efficient.
The Hallucination Issue
A pressing concern regarding Copilot is its tendency to “hallucinate,” a term used to describe the generation of incorrect or fictional information. Unlike Researcher and Smart Lookup, which rely on reliable sources that do not create erroneous facts, Copilot’s broader web search approach can lead to misleading content. Users must be vigilant, double-checking facts and diligently verifying sources—a process that can be time-consuming and frustrating.
Final Thoughts
As organizations and individuals transition to using Copilot, it’s crucial to understand the limitations and challenges this feature presents. While it may offer some new functionalities, the trade-offs concerning cost, credibility, and ease of use make it a point of concern for many users. For those who rely on accurate, reliable, and easily obtained information, the removal of Smart Lookup and Researcher in favor of Copilot may leave much to be desired.
