Getting Started with Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection

Overview

Learn about Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection, a generative AI tool with safeguards for University of Oregon faculty, staff, and students.

What is Copilot with Data Protection?

• Copilot with Data Protection is a web-based generative artificial intelligence chatbot.
• It uses OpenAI's ChatGPT-4o language model and the DALL-E 3 image generation model.
• The protected version of Copilot is available to everyone at the UO — faculty, staff, and students.

Accessing Copilot with Data Protection

To access Copilot with Data Protection:

1. Navigate to microsoft365.com/copilot
2. Sign in with your full UO email address and password.

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

Data protections in Copilot

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.

In contrast, tools like ChatGPT, or the consumer version of Copilot, do use your queries and chat history to train future models.

As of October 2024, Copilot's data protections match those in the UO's overall site license with Microsoft. That means any personal or UO data you enter will be protected in accordance with that agreement.

Safe data handling in Copilot

You must still follow all applicable rules and guidelines for data handling when using Copilot with Data Protection. Notably:

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

Using Copilot with Data Protection

After signing in to Copilot with Data Protection with your Duck ID, you'll be directed to its UO-themed 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 Ask me anything... or Message Copilot... field at the bottom of the window.
   • Prompts are largely composed of text-based requests.
   • Example prompts are selectable from the home screen or the View prompts link above the Ask me anything... field.
   • Files can be uploaded into a prompt to focus Copilot within those parameters. Select the paper clip icon within that field to upload a file.
2. Once the prompt has been entered, you can press Enter or Return on your keyboard or select the Send icon (paper airplane icon) 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.
• You can return to past chats by selecting the Chat History panel icon.

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.
• No other version of Copilot is broadly available at the UO — including Copilot for Microsoft 365, a version that's deeply integrated into the Microsoft apps.

More information

• Teaching and Generative AI: Course Policy and Activity Ideas - UO Teaching Support and Innovation
• Enterprise data protection in Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot - Microsoft
• Frequently asked questions: AI, Microsoft Copilot, and Microsoft Designer - Microsoft

Need help?

For other help with Microsoft Copilot with Data Protection, please submit a request at Microsoft Office 365 Support Request.