What is a copilot?
Author: Domeny.ForSale editorial team Published
In brief: A copilot is literally a second pilot, and in technology, an AI assistant that helps you carry out tasks such as writing text, analysing information or creating code. The name can refer to a category of assistants or a specific product, such as Microsoft Copilot or GitHub Copilot. Such an assistant makes suggestions and can perform certain actions, but its responses need to be checked.
What does copilot mean in a program or application?
A copilot is an artificial intelligence assistant available as a standalone service or as a feature of another program. It usually uses a language model — a system trained to process and generate language, including code. The user describes a task in everyday language, and the assistant prepares a response or helps perform an operation.
An instruction given to AI is called a prompt. It might read: “Shorten this message to five sentences and retain all deadlines.” Depending on the tool, the context for the response may be pasted text, an open document, a section of code or data made available by a connected service.
The term “copilot” alone does not imply a specific set of capabilities. One assistant only holds conversations, another can suggest changes to a file, and another can take an action after receiving permission. You should therefore not assume that every application with this name has access to the internet, company documents or the contents of your computer.
Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot — how do they differ?
The main difference is their intended use: Microsoft Copilot includes assistants for general tasks and working with Microsoft tools, while GitHub Copilot is primarily designed for programming.
| Name | Main use | Example task |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Copilot | Conversations with AI, content creation, help finding information | Drafting a message based on a description |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Help with work in the Microsoft 365 environment, depending on the version and configuration | Preparing a summary of a shared document |
| GitHub Copilot | Support with creating and understanding code | Suggesting a function, tests or an explanation of an error |
Names, packages and the range of features may change. The availability of a particular option may depend on the account, licence, application and administrator settings. Before purchasing, check the official Microsoft or GitHub documentation to see whether the version you choose supports the task you need and what its limits are.
If you see a Copilot button in an application, start by checking which service it leads to. The presence of the button does not necessarily mean that all the features shown are available in your plan.
What is a copilot useful for in practice?
A copilot can be useful when you need a first draft or want to transform existing information. It helps organise notes, change the tone of a message, explain a difficult passage in documentation or suggest code tests. Its work is easiest to assess when you have source material and a clearly defined expected result.
Suppose you run a small shop and want to reply to a customer asking about a delayed parcel. Instead of the instruction “Write a reply to the customer”, provide specific facts and boundaries for the task:
Prepare a polite reply of up to 100 words. The parcel was dispatched on Monday, and the carrier has not yet provided a delivery date. Do not promise a delivery date or compensation. State that we are checking the shipment status.
An instruction like this leaves less room for inventing details, although it does not eliminate the risk of error. Before sending the reply, check that it contains no promises you have not agreed to make. If they are not needed to prepare the text, do not give the assistant the customer’s surname, address or order number.
Why do copilots’ responses need to be checked?
A language model can generate information that sounds convincing but is untrue. This phenomenon is called an AI hallucination. It might be an invented program feature, a source that does not exist or an incorrect conclusion drawn from accurate data.
A document summary may omit an important exception, and generated code may work only in some cases or contain a security vulnerability. Fluent language does not demonstrate that a response is accurate. Likewise, citing a source is no substitute for checking whether it actually supports the conclusion in question.
Practical checks should match the type of task:
- Text: compare surnames, amounts, dates and statements with the source material.
- Analysis: verify calculations, assumptions and omitted data.
- Code: review the changes, run tests and check security before deployment.
- Action in an application: check the scope of the changes and the recipients before approving.
How can you start using a copilot safely?
For your first attempt, choose non-sensitive material whose accuracy you can assess yourself. Define the task, provide the necessary context and specify the response format. Instead of delegating an entire process straight away, first ask for a draft or suggested changes.
Before using company data, check your organisation’s policies and the documentation for the specific service. Important considerations include the conditions for storing data, using it to improve models and accessing connected resources. The rules for a personal account may differ from those for a workplace solution; do not paste passwords, API keys or confidential documents without appropriate permission.
Start with one recurring task, such as organising notes. Compare the time taken, including checks and corrections, with doing the work without an assistant — this is a concrete way to assess whether a particular copilot actually helps you.
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