Effective queries "Copilot

Copilot for Microsoft 365 provides a new way to work with everyday productivity tools like Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. However, the artificial intelligence (AI) assistant still needs some guidance – after all, it’s a copilot, not an autopilot. In this Blog post, you’ll learn how to write effective Copilot queries to get better responses the first time.

What makes a good Copilot query?

Writing a query to the AI assistant is not as simple as asking a colleague sitting next to you for help. You need to ensure that your query contains all the necessary information and instructions for Copilot to accomplish the task. A well-formulated query helps Copilot better understand your preferences and provide more accurate and relevant responses. Additionally, a proper query will save time and effort by preventing you from having to repeat or rewrite your request.

To ensure your query has all the necessary instructions for Copilot, you can follow a simple formula: include the goal, context, source of information, and your expectations. We’ll call this the “GCSE method.” These four elements will help you create queries that yield effective responses simply and efficiently.

Goal

What do you want Copilot to do? This could be summarizing a document, creating a presentation, writing an email, or answering a question.

Context

Why do you need Copilot to do this? Provide detailed information about the purpose of the task, the audience, or the situation – for example, preparing for a meeting, writing for a specific audience, or searching for specific information.

Source

Where do you want Copilot to get the information from? Specify to Copilot where to look for information, whether it’s a document, website, email, or conversation – or anything else that Copilot can access. You can use a quote in your query by stating “use this text as a source” or providing the URL of the website.

Expectations

How do you want Copilot to present the information? Here you can specify the format, length, style, tone, or level of detail you expect from the response. For example, do you want it to be bullet points, paragraphs, tables, or slides? Do you want the response to be concise or detailed? Do you want it to be formal or informal? Do you prefer technical terms or plain language?

These four elements can elevate your query to the next level, helping Copilot better understand what you need to generate a better result. The GCSE method is also great for refining queries – you can add, remove, or change any part to get a different result. You can change the goal from summarizing to creating, the context from training to sales, the source from a document to a website, and the expectations from bullet points to paragraphs.

Using the GCSE method to create Copilot queries

Copilot for Microsoft 365 is integrated across the entire Microsoft 365 suite of applications, meaning you can use queries in the programs you know well and use daily in your work.

If you have a Copilot for Microsoft 365 license, see how you can use the GCSE method in your queries in the following scenarios – and perhaps how you can adapt them to your needs.

Microsoft Word

Copilot in Word can help you write drafts, summarize documents, and create drafts that you will use for PowerPoint presentations or emails. It’s important to note that Microsoft Word’s Copilot can only work with the information you provide – it won’t give a great response if you want it to search for information online.

In one scenario, you might want to write a document about the benefits of Microsoft Teams for remote work. Using the GCSE method, your query could look like this:

Write a document about the benefits of Microsoft Teams for remote work to convince potential clients to include Teams as part of the sales presentation. Use the Microsoft Teams website: