Getting Started with Copilot Chat—Basic

Overview

Learn how to use UO's protected version of Copilot Chat, the web-based generative AI assistant tool from Microsoft.

What is Copilot Chat?

• Copilot Chat—Basic is a web-based generative artificial intelligence assistant.
• While Copilot uses a chat‑based interface, it is not a traditional chatbot—it is an AI system designed to enhance productivity, not replace human judgment, or act as a standalone data source.
• The data protected version of Copilot Chat—Basic is available to everyone at the UO — faculty, staff, and students when you are authenticated with your UO email address and password.

Data protections in Copilot

Our protected version of Copilot Chat—Basic is the only AI tool approved for use with moderate-risk (“amber”) or high-risk (“red”) data.  

• This approval follows a review by the university’s Information Security Office, AI Council, and AI Executive Steering Committee. 
• Data you enter is encrypted and isn’t used to train AI models outside the UO. 
• The UO’s existing agreement with Microsoft provides extensive protections for information entered into Copilot Chat—Basic, SharePoint, and other Microsoft services. 

As long as you're logged in with your UO account, your interactions with Copilot:

• Will be encrypted.
• Won't train any external large language models (LLMs).

The data you input won't leave our organization.

• Microsoft Copilot does learn from our organization, but only uses UO data to train Copilot for the UO.
• UO data is and will remain UO data.

Learn more in the More information section.

What about other AI tools?

You must still follow all applicable rules and guidelines for data handling when using other AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude among others. Notably:

• Only low-risk (green) data is appropriate.
• Don't enter moderate- or high-risk data (amber or red).

Accessing Copilot Chat—Basic

To access Copilot Chat—Basic:

1. Navigate to copilot.cloud.microsoft
2. Sign in with your full UO email address and password.

You should then see a green shield icon in the upper-right corner, indicating the protected version of Copilot.

Using Microsoft Copilot Chat—Basic

After signing in to Microsoft Copilot Chat—Basic with your UO email address and password, you'll be directed to the Copilot homepage, where it offers some introduction to the tool as well as some prompts to begin searches and queries.

1. To begin, enter a prompt into the Message Copilot field in the middle of the window.
   • Prompts are largely composed of text-based requests though you can enter voice-to-text or choose to have an audible conversation too. Select the icons to the right of the Message Copilot field for those features.
   • Example prompts are selectable from the prompt ideas or Prompt Lab options below the Message Copilot field.
   • Files can be uploaded and capabilities can be enabled into a prompt to focus Copilot within those parameters by selecting the + icon in the Message Copilot field.
   • Copilot is working on a new design (which is visible below) that you can toggle between it and the current design version.
2. Once the prompt has been entered, you can press Enter or Return on your keyboard or select the Arrow button in the prompt field to ask Copilot generate a response.
   

Next steps

• You can refine your results by entering additional prompts and selecting any of Copilot's suggestions.
• To start a new chat, select the New chat button in the upper right (current design) or upper left (New design).
• Your prompt and subsequent chat are saved to your account.
  • You can return to past chats by scrolling through expanding the left sidebar and going to the Chats section on the lower-left corner.

Once Copilot has replied, you can choose from three options if you wish by hovering your cursor over the response:

• Copy (copy icon)
  • This will copy the response to your system's clipboard.
• Like (thumbs-up icon) or dislike ( thumbs-down icon)
  • Either of these will prompt a dialog box to offer feedback to Microsoft to improve Copilot's performance and user experience. You choose to share your chat prompt, response, and diagnostic data with Microsoft. Once the feedback form is complete, you can click Submit.

Responsible Use of Generative AI

Any generative AI tool may produce unexpected results or errors. Users should verify the accuracy of the information provided.

Variants of Copilot

• Microsoft uses the name Copilot for a suite of AI tools. The one described here is web-based — like the consumer version of Copilot — but with enterprise data protection.
• Microsoft 365 Copilot—Premium, a version that's deeply integrated into the Microsoft apps, is available with a subscription for faculty and staff only. See AI Subscription-based Licenses Purchase Request for more information.

More information

• Microsoft Copilot offers protected AI experience for UO (OregonNews)
• Teaching and Generative AI: Course Policy and Activity Ideas (UO Teaching Support and Innovation)
• Enterprise data protection in Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft Learn)
• Copilot Privacy and protections (Microsoft Learn)
• Frequently asked questions: AI, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft Designer (Microsoft Learn)

Need help?

• For subscription requests for Copilot for Microsoft, see AI Subscription-based Licenses Request.
• For security exception requests, see Information Security Standard Exception Request.
• For other help with Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection, please submit a request at Microsoft Office 365 Support Request.