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Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat @ Cal Poly


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Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat @ Cal Poly

Copilot Chat is a secure AI chat experience available with Microsoft 365 EDU licenses at no extra cost. It is not the same as the full “Microsoft 365 Copilot” add‑on that enables advanced AI features inside Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Teams.

 

What Copilot Chat CAN Do

  • Provide AI‑powered chat assistance for researching public web content, summarizing user‑provided content, and generating ideas.

  • Work securely within Microsoft 365’s compliance boundaries.

  • Analyze currently open or manually uploaded files (e.g., Word docs, PDFs) and answer questions about them.

What Copilot Chat CANNOT Do

  • Access your organizational Microsoft 365 data (emails, Teams chats, SharePoint/OneDrive files, calendar, meetings).

  • Integrate directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or Teams to draft, analyze, summarize, or perform actions inside those apps.

  • Summarize meetings or email threads automatically.

  • Generate PowerPoint presentations or Excel data visualizations from your organizational content.

In short: Copilot Chat is a secure chat assistant, not a full Microsoft 365 AI integration.

Getting Started

  1. Ensure your Microsoft 365 apps are updated (if using Copilot Chat within the sidebar experiences).

  2. Look for the Copilot icon in the web app or Microsoft Office desktop application where Copilot Chat is available.

  3. Explore training resources:

Data Privacy & Security

Regardless of licensing, Microsoft maintains strong enterprise security across Copilot experiences.

  • Copilot runs inside Microsoft’s secure compliance boundary.

  • Copilot does not access or process institutional data unless you manually upload it.

Cal Poly SLO is committed to protecting user data and ensuring responsible use of AI technologies. Microsoft 365 Copilot is built on Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security, compliance, and privacy standards.

How Your Data Is Handled

  • Data Residency: Your data remains within the Microsoft 365 environment and is governed by Cal Poly’s existing Microsoft licensing agreements.

  • No Training on Your Data: Copilot does not use your data to train public or foundational AI models.

  • Secure Infrastructure: Microsoft uses encryption, access controls, and auditing to protect data at rest and in transit.

  • Transparency: Users can see what data Copilot is referencing and are encouraged to verify and edit generated content.

User Responsibilities

  • Review Outputs: AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies. Always verify before sharing or publishing.

  • Sensitive Data: Avoid prompting Copilot with confidential or regulated data unless you are certain it complies with university policies.

  • FERPA Compliance: Do not use Copilot to process or generate content involving student records unless explicitly permitted.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Copilot Chat have access to my email, Teams chats, or OneDrive?

No. It cannot access any organizational data.

Can Copilot Chat generate meeting summaries or email drafts?

No. Only the paid Copilot license provides these integrated features.

Can I upload a file for Copilot Chat to help analyze?

Yes. Copilot Chat can reason over uploaded files, or the currently open file or email.

Does Copilot store or share my data externally?

No.