UMass Boston

Microsoft Copilot Chat

What is Copilot Chat?

Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant built into Microsoft 365 to help boost efficiency and spark creativity. It leverages advanced language models to support tasks such as drafting content, creating summaries, and simplifying routine work. This version does not integrate across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams.

UMass Boston Access 

UMass Boston faculty, staff, and students can use the enterprise version of Microsoft Copilot Chat by visiting m365.cloud.microsoft/chat or using the button below.

Log In to Copilot

🔐 Important: Always sign in using your UMass Boston Microsoft 365 account and look for the enterprise shield icon to confirm you're in the protected environment. 

The shield icon located in upper right of screen

What Copilot Offers

Watch the video below, created with Clipchamp and AI voice tools included in UMass Boston’s Microsoft 365 account.

A screenshot of video intro screen with play button

Introduction to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

The standard Copilot experience works much like ChatGPT Plus, drawing on the latest AI models to respond to questions and create content, including images. It uses a conversational interface, letting you ask for information or request tasks in natural language.

  • Chat using text, voice, or images, powered by the latest AI models
  • Generate summaries of documents and online content
  • Create original images
  • Enhance answers with information from web searches
  • Benefit from enterprise-level data protection when signed in with your UMass Boston account

Privacy & Security 

Use Copilot Chat responsibly: Do not use Copilot to process personal information that could violate HIPAA or other data protection laws.

Using Generative AI Responsibly with Copilot Chat

Copilot Chat is a powerful tool, and how you use it depends on your responsibilities at UMass Boston. Explore guidance designed to support students, faculty, and staff—and check out our Responsible Use of Copilot video to learn more.

  • Students (Learning): Using Copilot Responsibly for Learning
    See how Copilot can help you brainstorm, outline, and organize your thoughts while staying within academic integrity expectations. 
  • Staff (Work): Using Copilot Responsibly at Work
    Learn how Copilot can support content creation, communication, and productivity while following ethical guidelines.
  • Faculty (Teach): AI Guidance for Teaching
    Explore strategies for setting expectations, designing assignments, and communicating with students about AI use.
  • Scholars & Researchers: Using Copilot Responsibly in Research
    Find tips on using Copilot for drafting, organizing notes, and managing data responsibly in research settings.

 

Copilot Basics and Prompting Tips

Getting Started with Copilot

New to Microsoft Copilot? Start here:

  • What is Copilot? – Learn what Copilot can do and how it enhances your work.

  • Getting Started with Copilot – Step-by-step guide from Microsoft on how to access, install, and use Copilot's features across your devices.

Using Copilot Prompts

Make the most of Copilot with well-crafted prompts:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the benefit of using Copilot with my UMass Boston account instead of the public version?  

Security and Privacy 

  • When you sign in to Copilot with your UMass Boston Microsoft 365 account, your information is protected under the same security and privacy standards that apply to all university Microsoft services. 
  • Prompts and responses are not used to train public AI models. 
  • Conversations are tied to your UMass Boston login and managed under the university’s Microsoft 365 compliance framework. 
  • No one else can see your chats or activity unless you choose to share them. 

Data Access 

  • At this time, Copilot for UMass Boston provides access to public web information only. It does not connect to your university files, emails, or Teams chats. 

This means you can: 

  • Explore ideas, summarize information, or draft content safely within UMass Boston’s secure environment. 
  • Ask questions that relate to your studies, work, or campus life. 
  • Copilot may also surface information from UMass Boston’s public website when it’s available online. 

Example 

Asking “What are good ways to prepare for finals?” will give you general web-based advice. Asking “Where can I get IT help at UMass Boston?” may show information from the university’s public IT website. 

What sources does Copilot use to answer my questions? 

Public Web Sources  

Copilot uses information from publicly available web pages such as:  

  • Educational and news sites 
  • Microsoft documentation 
  • Publicly accessible university pages  

These results are selected to provide reliable, general answers and guidance.  

UMass Boston–Related Sources  

Copilot can include information from UMass Boston’s public website if relevant to your question.
It does not search inside university systems like OneDrive, SharePoint, or Outlook at this time.  

Access and Permissions  

  • Copilot only draws from information that is publicly available on the web. 
  • It cannot access your private files or messages.  
  • You control what you share—Copilot will never view your documents, emails, or Teams chats. 

 

How can I share content with Copilot?

You can paste information directly into the chat, such as text you'd like help rewording or summarizing. You can also upload images (like screenshots or charts) for Copilot to describe or analyze. 

You cannot upload files such as PDFs, Word documents, or spreadsheets in this version, and Copilot cannot access your OneDrive, SharePoint, or Teams files. 

Everything you share stays private to your session. Copilot doesn’t store or share what you enter or upload, and nothing is saved unless you choose to copy or share it yourself.