The Joy of Using Microsoft's Copilot AI

In case you hadn't heard, artificial intelligence is here and integrating quickly into our everyday lives. It’s made its way into every home in the form of apps, devices, and ongoing conversations at the dinner table. So far, most of my conversations with people about the AI boom are focused on rapid evolution and use cases. And I agree we need that level of focus. But I've come to realize how much fun it is and how we can use it to bring more joy into our lives.

You may have also noticed that an AI’s temperament may differ from one to the next. I’ve noticed Microsoft's Copilot is professional but pleasant, as well. And I’m using that descriptor very specifically. One problem with Clippy (Copilot’s very early ancestor) is that it was far too joyful when helping. I think we can all agree that got a bit annoying at times. “No, Clippy, I don’t need help!”

But years later, Copilot is here amongst many other versions of machine learning. There appears to be a clear division of purpose between Copilot and others. One older comparison that comes to mind is the difference in purpose between MSN Messenger and Microsoft Office Communicator. MSN Messenger was marketed toward the average person who wants to chat with family and friends. But Office Communicator felt like it would help me do my job better. And that’s exactly how I feel about Copilot. And not just for my work life, but for my personal life, too.

Of course, there are a few options for conversation styles when using Copilot, but the common observation I made for each of them is that it’s not overly eager while it helps you and I enjoy it more because of that. A balanced AI is what feels natural. Sometimes, it gives you more information than you need but I'd rather scale the scope back than have to ask for more information, over and over.

What questions have I asked Copilot so far? The list is massive. In the last 4 months, I’ve entered hundreds or maybe thousands of prompts into Copilot and every time I ask it for help, I enjoy the experience. Even when the results are not at all what I wanted, I usually grant it grace and think, “It’s okay, Copilot. You’re still young.” After all, Copilot is just a toddler right now.

Some prompt examples include:

• Help me design a logo for my photography social media account (Copilot Designer)

• Explain the potential ROI within the Microsoft Viva Suite

• Help me find a good but inexpensive hotel for my trip (Copilot Vacation Planner)

• Help me write a bio for my LinkedIn profile

• Give me a list of hashtags from the following text

• Why do insects love me so much?

Every time I enter a prompt into Copilot that is somewhat of a long shot in terms of getting the result I want, I feel joy when it actually works. And even if it doesn’t work out, I learn a limitation and can work around it in the future. My curiosity prompts the question, “I wonder if Copilot can do this…” That roll of the dice is intoxicating! To my surprise, many times my doubt has been proven unwarranted, and I got exactly what I doubted would come. Other times, I aimed too high for Copilot and affirmed its limitations.

And that brings me to the real joy of using AI. I find the joy within the process of understanding its limitations and then becoming creative despite those limitations. Testing the limits and sometimes exceeding what I thought could be done is fulfilling. This new experience is not the average tech innovation. It’s most like the Internet boom in the late 90’s. It’s going to allow all of us to focus on the things that matter most in our daily lives, in and out of work.

I enjoy the help it offers me already and I’m confident our collective experience in life will be more joyful with fewer life tasks to focus on, fewer questions to ask, faster decision making, and a pleasant learning experience with AI as it grows. And the main takeaway so far for me is to remember to have fun with AI. The more you try it, the more you'll understand it. The more you understand it, the better your results will be.

Over time, you may accidentally become an AI prompt expert because you didn't have the money to hire a contractor for a home project and needed to know how to do it yourself or you now create stunning images with the most descriptive prompts out there for your marketing team. No matter the use case, don't forget to have fun.

If you've used Copilot, how would you rate your experience so far?

• I don't enjoy it
• It's alright
• I really like it
• I love it!