Standard versus priority access to features in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is designed to help you get to the right answer — whether you’re asking a quick question, exploring a complex task, or digging into a detailed research topic. Powered by GPT-5 and the latest large language models (LLMs), Copilot understands your intent and automatically adjusts the underlying model it uses based on your prompt.

Notes:

Copilot Chat is in the process of transitioning to OpenAI's latest generative AI model, the GPT-5 model, as its primary supporting LLM. Try GPT-5 with your Copilot prompts by selecting the Try GPT-5 button at the top right in Copilot Chat.
When using GPT-5 in Copilot Chat, Copilot chooses the best model, including GPT-5, to generate a response that has increased complexity, accuracy, and overall performance.
You can use the Try GPT-5 button in Copilot Chat whether you have or don't have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

Standard and priority access to features in Copilot Chat

The level of access to capabilities like file upload, image generation, and models (like GPT-5) in Copilot Chat differs based on whether a user has a Microsoft 365 Copilot license or not.

Priority access: Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed users receive priority access to Copilot Chat capabilities, ensuring faster response times and more consistent availability—even during peak usage periods.
Standard access: Users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license have standard access, which is subject to service capacity and may vary throughout the day. If capacity isn't available, users are notified in-product, but any task already in progress continues uninterrupted.

Note: Quality and performance of some capabilities with standard access may vary depending on the service availability and may vary throughout the day. If the service isn't available, Copilot notifies you. It won't interrupt any task in progress. For more details, see How Copilot Chat works with and without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

How deeply does Copilot Chat analyze prompts?

With the introduction of GPT-5 in Copilot Chat, when you enter in prompt in Copilot Chat, like a question or request, it analyzes the prompt (and any attached files for context) to figure out what you need. Based on the complexity of your request, Copilot Chat chooses the best way to respond:

Quick answers

For simple, factual questions, Copilot Chat responds quickly with clear, concise information.

Prompt 1: How can I quickly describe overall employee satisfaction in our company?
- To respond to a prompt regarding company data, Copilot Chat needs access to your work data, which is only possible with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
Prompt 2: Translate the following text into English (United States): [insert text].
Prompt 3: What is [insert company]'s current stock price?

Thoughtful analysis

For more nuanced or multi-step questions, Copilot Chat takes a moment to think through the problem and shows its reasoning step by step.

Prompt 1: Break down the steps to launch a new product feature, including stakeholder alignment, technical implementation, and go-to-market activities.
Prompt 2: Create an FAQ blog post based on our upcoming product releases.
- To respond to a prompt regarding company data, Copilot Chat needs access to your work data, which is only possible with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
Prompt 3: Analyze the following text and make suggestions on how to improve it: [insert text].

In-depth research through agents

For complex, research-heavy topics, you can use agents like Researcher and Analyst in Copilot Chat to pull together information from your work and trusted sources, organize it into a structured response, and cite sources.

Prompt 1: @Researcher draft an executive status report on [Project].
- To respond to a prompt regarding company data, Copilot Chat needs access to your work data, which is only possible with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
Prompt 2: @Researcher help me prepare for a meeting with [Customer].
Prompt 3: @Analyst what are the trends you see in the uploaded files? Which variables are correlated and how much? Can you visualize these correlations?

Note: A Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on license is required to use deep reasoning agents such as Researcher and Analyst.

What to expect from Copilot Chat responses

Here’s what you might see depending on the type of question you ask Copilot Chat:

Type of prompt	What Copilot Chat does
Quick answers Example prompt: How many US bank holidays are there this year?	Gives you a direct, instant answer Example response: In 2025, there are 11 U.S. federal (bank) holidays observed nationwide.
Thoughtful analysis Example prompt: How should I organize a presentation about my team's performance?	Breaks the problem into steps and explains its thought process Example response: Here’s a clear way to structure your presentation so it’s engaging, easy to follow, and highlights your team’s achievements effectively: Step 1...
Deep research or analysis Example prompt: @Researcher, explain current consumer demands for more sustainable products.	Gathers and organizes information into a detailed, and structured response Example response: Got it! You're looking for insights into current consumer demands for more sustainable products. To make sure I tailor the research to your needs: ...

Type of prompt

What Copilot Chat does

Quick answers

Icon depicting a document with sparkles Example prompt: How many US bank holidays are there this year?

Gives you a direct, instant answer

Icon depicting a document with sparkles Example response: In 2025, there are 11 U.S. federal (bank) holidays observed nationwide.

Thoughtful analysis

Icon depicting a document with sparkles Example prompt: How should I organize a presentation about my team's performance?

Breaks the problem into steps and explains its thought process

Icon depicting a document with sparkles Example response: Here’s a clear way to structure your presentation so it’s engaging, easy to follow, and highlights your team’s achievements effectively: Step 1...

Deep research or analysis

Icon depicting a document with sparkles Example prompt: @Researcher, explain current consumer demands for more sustainable products.

Gathers and organizes information into a detailed, and structured response

Icon depicting a document with sparkles Example response: Got it! You're looking for insights into current consumer demands for more sustainable products.

To make sure I tailor the research to your needs: ...

Copilot Chat chain of thought

For complex prompts that require a great amount of analysis, Copilot Chat may show you its chain of thought, meaning the steps it took to arrive at its answer, so you can follow along and understand how it got there. For example:

In Copilot Chat, @mention Researcher and enter in a prompt, like the following prompt.
1. Prompt: @Researcher, explain the various public opinions around [insert topic].
Once Researcher in Copilot Chat completes its response, you can view the chain of thought at the beginning of its response in the Reasoned section.
Select View more to view the entire chain of thought.

Tips for better results

Be specific. The more context you give, the better Copilot Chat can tailor its response.
- Try asking Copilot Chat "For my upcoming performance review, show how my previous quarter's work as contributed my team's key results. Reference my Teams messages, emails, and meeting transcripts for details." instead of "How well I have a performed this quarter?"
- Note: Only users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license can use Copilot Chat to reference Teams messages, emails, and meeting transcripts for generating responses.
Attach relevant files. If your question relates to a document, spreadsheet, or email, include it in your chat.
Ask follow-up questions. Copilot Chat remembers the context of your conversation, so you can keep refining your request without starting over.
Request structure. If you’d like your answer in a list, table, or summary, just ask.

Frequently asked questions about Copilot Chat

Complex, research-heavy requests may take up to a few minutes as Copilot Chat gathers and organizes information.
Also, if you have standard access to Copilot Chat, your responses may take longer to process. See Standard and priority access to Copilot Chat for more information.

Select Start a new chat to clear previous prompts and start fresh.

Reasoning steps appear for prompts requiring Copilot Chat to complete complex tasks and analysis.

Standard versus priority access to features in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Standard and priority access to features in Copilot Chat