UF GPT: Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot
- Purpose: General-purpose AI assistant available on the web and integrated into the Microsoft Edge browser.
- Data Access: Primarily uses web data and your local context; does not access enterprise emails or files.
- Security: Enterprise data protection when signed in with Gatorlink credentials..
- Features:
- Web-based Q\&A, image generation, creative writing.
- Licensing: Free for all UF users
- Best For: Casual or personal use, quick research, and light productivity tasks.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Purpose: Enterprise-grade AI assistant embedded directly into Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
- Data Access: Deep integration with Microsoft Graph, meaning it can securely access the content to which the logged in user has access, emails, calendar, files, and meetings.
- Security & Compliance: Operates inside your Microsoft 365 tenant with Enterprise data protection, adhering to organizational compliance policies.
- Some of the capabilities:
- Draft documents, summarize email threads, create presentations, analyze Excel data.
- Generate meeting summaries and action items in Teams.
- Licensing: M365 Copilot is a paid per user license add-on to the UF Microsoft 365 Education plans. For purchasing information, refer to the Software Licensing Services site.
- Best For: Users who need secure, contextual AI assistance with organizational data in Microsoft 365 applications.
Key Differences
| Aspect | Microsoft 365 Copilot | Copilot (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Integration | Full in-app experience across Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook | Web, Edge browser |
|
Data Context |
Enterprise data. Content to which the licensed user has access. | Public web data |
| Security | Enterprise data protection | Enterprise data protection when signed in with Gatorlink credentials. |
| Cost | For purchasing information, refer to the Software Licensing Services site | Free |
| Use | Case Business workflows, secure collaboration | General queries, personal tasks |
Security, Privacy, Data Classification Usage Guidelines
When used with your GatorLink login Microsoft provides additional protection of your data above and beyond the basic publicly available Microsoft Copilot service. At this time, UF does not permit the usage of restricted or sensitive data with UF GPT powered by Microsoft Copilot, please see the UF Data Guide for more information. Conversation history is not retained post each session, and user interactions do not contribute to training the large language model. Further work is underway to assess the service for use with additional data classifications. Check back here for further updates.
Using Microsoft Copilot
AI-powered tool designed to assist users in a variety of tasks. Whether you are in pursuit of specific information, require assistance with a particular task, or simply wish to engage in a conversation, Microsoft Copilot is available through your browsers and your phone.
Microsoft Copilot uses a version of the Generative Pretrained Transformer model, specifically GPT-5. It also leverages GPT-4o and other OpenAI models that are capable of handling different kinds of inputs, including images.