How to Use Copilot with Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Copilot, the AI powered assistant integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite, is transforming how we interact with daily tasks. One of the most powerful and practical uses of Copilot is within Microsoft Outlook, where it can help you streamline email management, prioritize communications, and increase overall productivity. This blog post will guide you through how to use Microsoft Copilot with Outlook to make your email workflow more efficient and manageable.

What is Microsoft Copilot in Outlook?

Microsoft Copilot in Outlook is an AI-driven assistant designed to help you manage emails, create responses, and keep on top of your inbox with ease. By leveraging natural language processing and machine learning, Copilot can automate various tasks such as summarizing long email threads, drafting responses, scheduling meetings, and prioritizing emails based on urgency or importance.

Whether you’re managing a heavy email load, collaborating with colleagues, or scheduling meetings, Copilot can take care of repetitive tasks and provide intelligent recommendations, allowing you to focus on more high-impact work.

How to Access Copilot in Microsoft Outlook

To begin using Microsoft Copilot in Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Ensure Copilot is Enabled: Make sure your Microsoft 365 subscription includes access to Copilot. You may need to update Outlook to the latest version to see Copilot features.
2. Open Microsoft Outlook: Whether you’re using the desktop app or the web version of Outlook, launch the program as usual.
3. Activate Copilot: In the Outlook toolbar, you will see the Copilot icon. Click on it to activate Copilot within your inbox.
4. Start Typing Prompts: Once activated, you can begin asking Copilot to assist with tasks, such as “Summarize this email thread,” or “Draft a response to this email.”

By simply typing natural language commands, Copilot will understand your intent and perform the task for you.

Key Features of Microsoft Copilot in Outlook

Here are some of the most impactful features that Copilot offers within Microsoft Outlook to help you manage emails efficiently:

1. Summarize Long Email Threads

Reading through lengthy email threads can be time-consuming, especially when multiple participants are involved. Copilot can quickly summarize the key points from an email chain, helping you catch up on conversations without having to read every message.

For example:

• Input: “Summarize this email thread.”
• Output: Copilot generates a concise summary of the discussion, highlighting decisions made, questions raised, and any important follow-up actions.

This feature is especially useful when you’re catching up on emails after a period of absence or need to review discussions involving many participants.

2. Draft Email Responses

If you’re struggling with drafting responses or simply want to save time, Copilot can help by generating draft replies based on the context of the email you’ve received. You can provide specific instructions or ask Copilot to come up with a general response for you to review and personalize.

For example:

• Input: “Draft a response thanking the sender and confirming the meeting details.”
• Output: Copilot creates a polite, professional reply, which you can then edit as needed.

This feature allows you to maintain a consistent tone and style while managing a high volume of emails efficiently.

3. Prioritize Important Emails

Copilot can help you organize your inbox by prioritizing emails based on criteria such as urgency, sender, or relevance to ongoing projects. By analyzing the content of your emails and your interactions with contacts, Copilot can automatically flag important emails for you.

For example:

• Input: “Show me the most urgent emails from today.”
• Output: Copilot sorts through your inbox and surfaces the emails that need immediate attention, allowing you to focus on high-priority tasks first.

This feature helps reduce overwhelm by ensuring that no critical emails slip through the cracks.

4. Schedule Meetings and Appointments

Copilot can quickly assist with scheduling meetings by analyzing your email content and calendar availability. Whether you’re trying to coordinate a meeting with multiple participants or responding to a request for a time slot, Copilot can automate the scheduling process for you.

For example:

• Input: “Schedule a meeting with Sarah next week and find a time slot.”
• Output: Copilot checks your calendar and suggests available time slots, then automatically sends a meeting invite based on the selected time.

This integration with your calendar eliminates the back-and-forth often involved in scheduling meetings, making the process seamless.

5. Analyse Attachments and Email Content

When emails contain attachments like spreadsheets or documents, Copilot can analyse the content and provide summaries or key insights, saving you from having to open multiple files. It can also assist in drafting responses based on the attached content.

For example:

• Input: “Summarize the data in the attached Excel file.”
• Output: Copilot reviews the attachment and generates a summary of the key points, which you can include in your email reply.

This feature is particularly useful when dealing with reports, proposals, or lengthy documents.

6. Follow Up Reminders

Copilot can set reminders for follow-up actions, ensuring that you stay on top of important conversations. If an email mentions a deadline or follow-up task, Copilot can automatically prompt you to act by a certain date.

For example:

• Input: “Remind me to follow up on this by Friday.”
• Output: Copilot sets a reminder in your Outlook calendar or task list, ensuring you never miss a deadline.

This feature is ideal for staying organized and ensuring that important tasks don’t get lost in your inbox.

Practical Use Cases for Copilot in Outlook

Here are a few examples of how Copilot can assist you in real-world scenarios:

• Inbox Zero: If you’re aiming to clear your inbox regularly, Copilot can help you prioritize and draft responses quickly, allowing you to manage your email flow efficiently and achieve inbox zero faster.
• Customer Support: For customer service professionals, Copilot can automate responses to common inquiries and flag high-priority requests, enabling quicker response times.
• Team Collaboration: Copilot can streamline internal communications by summarizing key discussion points in email threads and making sure you’re always up to date on team activities.

Tips for Maximizing Copilot in Outlook

• Use Clear, Specific Prompts: To get the most accurate results, give Copilot clear and specific instructions. For example, “Schedule a meeting with my manager for next week” will yield better results than simply “Schedule a meeting.”
• Review Generated Responses: While Copilot can draft responses quickly, it’s always a good idea to review and personalize them to ensure they align with your communication style.
• Leverage Summaries for Long Emails: When faced with lengthy emails or threads, make the most of Copilot’s summarizing feature to save time and quickly identify key points.

Some up

Microsoft Copilot in Outlook is a powerful tool that transforms the way you manage emails, helping you stay organized, respond faster, and streamline communication. From generating email drafts to summarizing long conversations, Copilot saves you time and energy, allowing you to focus on more critical tasks.