Choosing the Best AI Tool: ChatGPT vs Copilot

Part 2 of a 2-Part Series

Choosing the Best AI Tool for Your Organization: ChatGPT vs. Microsoft Copilot

Is your organization new to AI? This 2-part series on AI in the Workplace can help.

In part 1, we explored the advantages and challenges of integrating AI into your organization. Read the full article here: Can AI Provide a Competitive Advantage in the Workplace?

Now, let’s explore the different tools and how to choose in Part 2:

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, two tools have emerged as game-changers for enhancing productivity and efficiency in the workplace: Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT. While both leverage the power of AI, they are tailored for different aspects of professional work.

Microsoft 365 Copilot: Your Integrated Productivity Partner

Microsoft 365 Copilot is integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite, providing a seamless experience across various applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It is designed to understand the context of your work, offering personalized assistance based on your role, projects, and collaborations.

Copilot can summarize important documents, draft emails, and even search your enterprise data for answers to key questions, all within the familiar Microsoft ecosystem. Another aspect we love about Copilot; it is HIPPA compliant, so this is best used for all employees in your organization.

One of the standout features of Copilot is its ability to tap into your organization’s knowledge base. It can pull information from documents, emails, and meetings to provide comprehensive insights. For instance, if you are an account manager preparing for a client meeting, Copilot can quickly summarize recent communications and relevant data points, ensuring you are well informed and ready to engage effectively. This can be completed within minutes, dramatically reducing the time spent collecting data from the various resources yourself.

A common concern I get asked about Copilot and its ability to work from an individual’s documents is, “What if that person leaves or gets fired?” But do not worry; a simple fix is moving those documents from the current employee’s OneDrive to the new employee’s OneDrive, allowing Copilot to pull the knowledge from those documents as if the previous employee were still active.

ChatGPT: The Conversational AI Companion

ChatGPT, conversely, is a variant of the GPT (Generative Pretrained Transformer) language model, which generates human-like text. It is a conversational agent that can write essays, create content, and code based on your prompts. ChatGPT is versatile and can be used for various tasks, from drafting creative writing pieces to generating technical reports. I recommend using this tool primarily for research and development due to its unique ability to provide a wide range of data based on broad prompts.

Unlike Copilot, ChatGPT is not tied to a specific suite of tools or an enterprise database. It operates independently, drawing on a vast corpus of knowledge. ChatGPT is an excellent choice for tasks requiring a broad understanding of topics or generating content from scratch without relying on existing enterprise data. This is best used for tasks that require creativity and a broad range of data, such as research and development, process optimization, or content creation.

While compliance is not built-in with ChatGPT, there are API implementation models with privacy settings that can provide some level of compliance. However, the only compliant version of Chat GPT exists when integrated with Teams, so the standard, free version is not recommended for every user in your organization, unlike with Copilot.

Both Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT offer valuable assistance for daily work tasks, but they shine in different scenarios. Copilot is your integrated productivity partner within the Microsoft ecosystem that customizes results based on your personal files.

At the same time, ChatGPT is your conversational AI companion for a broader range of tasks, such as research, scenario analysis, content creation, and optimization tasks. By understanding their distinct capabilities, you can leverage these AI tools to maximize your efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace.

See the comparison table below for a quick summarized list of the capabilities of both AI tools: