Copilot vs. ChatGPT: Which is the better assistant?

Two prominent names in the world of artificial intelligence (AI) are Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT. Both AI-based tools enhance productivity and creativity in the digital context. But what exactly are they, and how do they differ? Here’s a technical analysis of “Copilot vs. ChatGPT.”

In short, Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite. It uses large language models (LLMs) and data from the Microsoft Graph to provide personalized assistance, making integration with Microsoft 365 apps more intuitive and efficient. Their technology allows for automating daily tasks, facilitating content creation, and improving team collaboration.

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a state-of-the-art AI model designed to generate human-like text. It is employed in a wide range of applications, including GitHub Copilot, Microsoft Teams Premium, and Bing Chat, to offer intelligent and contextually relevant responses. Their technology is particularly effective in understanding the context of conversations and providing accurate and relevant suggestions.

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is a digital assistant based on artificial intelligence designed to provide personalized assistance for a wide range of tasks and activities. It does not just connect ChatGPT with Microsoft 365; it combines the power of large language models (LLMs) with your data in the Microsoft Graph, including calendar, email, chat, documents, meetings, and more, and the Microsoft 365 apps, transforming your words into the world’s most powerful productivity tool.

Integrated into the apps you use daily, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and others, Microsoft 365 Copilot works alongside you to unleash your creativity, increase productivity, and enhance your skills.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a natural language processing technology that leverages machine learning, deep learning, natural language understanding, and natural language generation to answer questions or engage in conversations. Designed to mimic human conversation, ChatGPT understands your questions or comments and responds engagingly and naturally.

Developed by OpenAI, an AI research and deployment company, ChatGPT was launched in November 2022. The term GPT in ChatGPT stands for “generative pre-trained transformer,” indicating that the model was trained on a vast amount of human language data from the internet. It is available both as an API and through end-user applications like ChatGPT.

Functioning as a chatbot, ChatGPT is designed to converse with you. After receiving a question or prompt, ChatGPT uses machine learning algorithms to understand the context of the conversation and generate appropriate responses. To produce a response, it predicts the next word in a sequence based on patterns learned from human language. The more detail you provide in your prompts, the more precise the responses ChatGPT can offer.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of tasks ChatGPT can help you perform:

• Compose essays, emails, and cover letters
• Create lists
• Describe art in detail
• Write code
• Summarize content
• Create poems and song lyrics
• Create your resume
• Search the internet

Copilot vs. ChatGPT: structural differences

ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot represent two advanced but distinct implementations of AI technology. While their core architectures share a foundation in deep learning and language models, they diverge significantly to suit their unique applications and goals.

Base model architecture

ChatGPT uses the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. This architecture is designed to understand and generate human-like text by predicting the next word based on previous words.

Microsoft Copilot, in its various applications (GitHub Copilot, Copilot for Microsoft 365, etc.), is likely built on different models adapted for specific tasks. These might include adaptations of GPT for code generation in GitHub Copilot or customized models for productivity tasks in Office. The exact architecture may combine GPT-like models with other neural network architectures optimized for particular types of predictions and interactions.

Training data and optimization

• ChatGPT: Trained on a diverse set of data that spans a wide range of text found on the internet. This extensive training base allows ChatGPT to handle discussions and respond to questions across many domains.
• Microsoft Copilot: Custom training datasets are selected based on the specific application. For example, GitHub Copilot is trained on publicly available code repositories to enhance its code suggestion capabilities. Meanwhile, Microsoft 365 Copilot might be trained on a dataset that includes document formats, email communication patterns, and interactions with productivity tools to better understand and assist with office-related tasks.

Model size and configuration

• ChatGPT: GPT models, including ChatGPT, are available in various sizes, with larger ones offering more nuanced comprehension and generation capabilities. The model’s size (e.g., the number of parameters) significantly impacts its performance and computational requirements.
• Microsoft Copilot: The model size and configuration can vary significantly among its different applications. For example, models designed to suggest code in real-time in an IDE might prioritize speed and responsiveness, potentially leading to a leaner model design than one used to process complex documents in Microsoft 365.

Adaptability and customization

• ChatGPT: While highly versatile, ChatGPT’s adaptability primarily comes from applying its general training to specific user queries. Customization for individual users or use cases is not its main focus, though it can learn from user interactions during a session.
• Microsoft Copilot: Designed with specific applications in mind, each variant of Copilot is likely optimized for target tasks, such as writing code or editing documents. This specialized adaptation allows for more direct integration and greater responsiveness to the particular needs of its application sector, including command and workflow customizations in software like VS Code or Microsoft Office.

This comparison highlights how the architectural choices in Copilot and ChatGPT reflect their designed purposes: ChatGPT as a generalist conversational model and Copilot as a series of specialized tools optimized for specific tasks within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Copilot vs. ChatGPT: usage differences

While ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are innovative in their respective fields, their primary use cases differ significantly, catering to different needs and sectors.

Use cases for ChatGPT

• Conversational Agent: ChatGPT excels in natural language processing, making it ideal for creating chatbots that engage in human-like dialogues.
• Content Creation: Assists in generating creative writing, articles, essays, and even poetry, leveraging its extensive training on diverse textual data.
• Informative Queries: Can answer a wide range of questions, similar to a search engine but with a more conversational context.
• Language Translation: Can translate languages and offer assistance in language learning.
• Educational Tool: Useful for tutoring and explaining complex concepts in simple terms, making it a valuable educational resource.
• Customer Support: Automates customer service interactions, answering questions and resolving common issues.

Use cases for Microsoft Copilot

• Coding Assistant: Primarily designed to assist developers by suggesting code snippets, algorithms, and solving programming problems in various languages.
• Code Review and Debugging Help: Assists in examining code for errors and potential optimizations, improving code quality and efficiency.
• Documentation: Helps create and maintain technical documentation, essential for software development.
• Learning and Tutoring: Acts as a learning tool for novice programmers, providing coding suggestions and explaining best practices.
• Integration with Development Tools: Copilot is designed to seamlessly integrate with IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) and other coding platforms, making it a practical tool for developers.
• Automation of Repetitive Tasks: Helps automate repetitive coding tasks, increasing productivity and allowing developers to focus on more substantive problems.

The versatility of ChatGPT in language-based tasks makes it a multifunctional tool for content creation, education, and customer interaction.

In contrast, Microsoft Copilot is more specialized, supporting and enhancing software development through code generation, review, and optimization. Each serves distinct purposes, reflecting their unique capabilities in applying AI.

Microsoft Copilot Studio or ChatGPT Custom?

Microsoft Copilot Studio

Copilot Studio is an AI-powered tool designed primarily for coding and software development. Using machine learning, it understands code context and suggests lines of code and code completions. This tool is integrated into popular Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), enhancing your coding experience by offering smart functions and variable suggestions.

Copilot Studio learns from the code you write over time, becoming increasingly efficient in providing relevant suggestions. It is particularly useful for developers, helping you generate code more quickly and efficiently. Copilot Studio is a great aid within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem and can be integrated into all applications like Word, Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, and others.

ChatGPT Custom

Various versions of the ChatGPT Custom model, provided by OpenAI, are tailored for specific applications. Based on the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) architecture, the conversational AI platform ChatGPT is designed to perform a wide range of tasks. Beyond coding, its primary focus is on natural language processing, which includes text generation, question answering, and conversational dialogue interaction.

ChatGPT Custom applications range from chatbots to language translation tools and virtual assistants. Free and premium versions are available, the latter offering advanced features and faster response times. ChatGPT Custom is known for its adaptability in handling a wide range of language tasks and for its leading integration into various applications via the OpenAI API.

Let’s take a detailed look at the comparison between Copilot Studio and ChatGPT Custom.

Copilot Studio

• Functionality: Its main purpose is programming, providing automatic code suggestions, smart functions, and variable suggestions. Its strength lies in code completion and generation, leveraging a vast dataset from repositories. It is not suitable for creating textual content like articles or long-form writing.
• Integration and Usage: Seamlessly integrates with IDEs. Suitable for complex coding tasks and enhances coding efficiency. Its upcoming version, Copilot X, will include features like chat and voice. It is intended for use by programmers and developers.
• Pricing: A paid service accessible to GitHub subscribers.
• Security and Privacy: Includes advanced security features to protect coding privacy.
• Limitations: Occasionally may provide incorrect or inefficient code suggestions. Might struggle with highly intricate programming tasks that require specialized expertise.

ChatGPT Custom

• Functionality: A versatile conversational AI capable of handling a wide range of tasks beyond programming. Suitable for natural language processing tasks, including text generation, question answering, and coding. Capable of producing long-form articles, essays, emails, and more. Offers a chat-like interface for interaction and request clarification.
• Integration and Usage: Can be integrated into various applications via the OpenAI API. Used in applications like chatbots, language translation tools, and virtual assistants. Features include email composition, list creation, and content summarization.
• Pricing: Available in free and premium versions (ChatGPT Plus). The premium plan offers advanced features and faster response times.
• Security and Privacy: Focuses less on specific security features for coding, leaving you to build your own security measures.
• Limitations: May struggle with technical jargon and occasionally produce less relevant responses. Not ideal for real-time applications like gaming or trading.

In conclusion, while Copilot Studio and ChatGPT Custom are both AI-based tools developed by OpenAI, they serve distinct purposes.

Copilot Studio is specifically designed to assist with tasks within the Microsoft ecosystem, while ChatGPT Custom provides broader conversational AI capabilities for various language-based tasks.

While Copilot Studio is a paid service primarily aimed at coding, ChatGPT Custom is available in both free and paid versions.

Summary of the Top 10 differences between Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT

Understanding the fundamental differences between Microsoft’s Copilot suite (which includes GitHub Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and others) and ChatGPT will help you choose the tool that best suits your needs.

1. Purpose

• ChatGPT: Developed primarily for conversational interactions, able to provide information, answer questions, and generate texts in various fields.
• Microsoft Copilot: Designed for specific applications, such as assisting with coding via GitHub Copilot and improving productivity with Microsoft 365 Copilot, adapting to diverse user needs.

2. Integration

• ChatGPT: An autonomous AI chat interface or an API that can be integrated into various applications.
• Microsoft Copilot: Tightly integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, enhancing existing tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, and GitHub with AI capabilities.

3. User Interface

• ChatGPT: Typically accessible via a text-based chat interface or API.
• Microsoft Copilot: Integrated directly into Microsoft software, providing AI features within the user interface of applications like Visual Studio Code and Office apps.

4. Functional Scope

• ChatGPT: Offers a wide range of functions and can generate various types of text, from creative writing to technical explanations.
• Microsoft Copilot: Provides specialized functions based on the host application, such as code suggestions in GitHub or document creation in Word.

5. Training

• ChatGPT: Trained on a vast set of texts from the internet, aiming for general understanding and text generation capability.
• Microsoft Copilot: Training involves specialized datasets, such as source code repositories for GitHub Copilot or business documents for Microsoft 365 Copilot, focusing on sector-specific knowledge.

6. User Interaction

• ChatGPT: Engages users in dialogue, providing responses and generating content based on user input.
• Microsoft Copilot: Proposes suggestions, automates, and enhances user actions within a specific application, such as drafting emails or optimizing spreadsheets.

7. Customization

• ChatGPT: Allows customization through prompts, enabling users to guide the conversation or content generation.
• Microsoft Copilot: Adapts to user behavior over time within its specific application, personalizing suggestions and actions to improve workflow.

8. Output

• ChatGPT: Primarily produces text-based responses or generated content.
• Microsoft Copilot: Generates output relevant to its application, including code, document drafts, email summaries, and data analysis.

9. Collaboration

• ChatGPT: Focuses primarily on individual user interaction.
• Microsoft Copilot: Designed to enhance collaborative efforts, especially in Microsoft Copilot, facilitating document sharing, meeting preparation, and data analysis among team members.

10. Availability

• ChatGPT: Available as a web service or API, accessible to developers and users worldwide.
• Microsoft Copilot: Availability is tied to the Microsoft ecosystem, requiring access to specific Microsoft applications and sometimes a subscription.

These differences highlight the distinct roles of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot in the broad AI landscape, each catering to unique user needs and specific application scenarios.

When to use ChatGPT

You want to experiment

‍Since its launch, ChatGPT has been the leading AI chatbot and has served as a model for many AI chatbot alternatives that followed. Consequently, it has the most recognition and popularity, and the excitement is well deserved. ChatGPT is a competent chatbot that can provide information and assistance on various topics, including technical fields like writing and programming. Currently, ChatGPT is free and open to everyone. So, if you’re curious about how an AI-based chatbot might be useful to you, you could try the one that started the boom and discover what you like and need in an assistant.

You want free access to OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-4

‍The most compelling reason to try ChatGPT is to experience GPT-4°. In May 2024, OpenAI presented its latest and most advanced flagship model, GPT-4°. As the name suggests, the model has the same intelligence as GPT-4, which is remarkable since GPT-4 has outperformed its predecessor on almost all benchmarks, including reasoning, coding, English, and more. Moreover, the “o” in the new model’s title refers to its multimodal capabilities, allowing it to understand text, audio, image, and video inputs and produce text, audio, and image outputs. With the update, free users can enjoy features previously reserved for paid users, such as obtaining web responses, uploading files and images, and accessing Memory and the GPT Store. In the future, free ChatGPT users will also be able to use the new Voice Mode, enhanced by the video and audio capabilities of GPT-4°, to offer a more conversational experience and use the context of their environment to provide vocal responses.

When to use Microsoft Copilot

You want footnotes automatically added

‍One of the main issues with ChatGPT is the inability to verify the accuracy of responses since the tool does not provide sources. Although the May update to ChatGPT enabled the chatbot to browse the internet, ChatGPT still only provides links in some cases. When asking Copilot a question, the chatbot automatically includes footnotes in its generated responses that conclude at the source of the answer. Clicking on the footnote will redirect you directly to the web article in another tab. This feature is useful when using the chatbot to delve deeper into a topic.

Conclusion

The choice between Copilot and ChatGPT depends on the user’s specific needs and the context of use. Copilot is optimized to provide assistance in coding and software development, while ChatGPT excels in natural language processing and conversational interactions. If the goal is to improve efficiency in software development, Copilot might be the better choice, whereas if you are looking for a virtual assistant for a wide range of language tasks, ChatGPT could be the ideal solution. Ultimately, both platforms offer excellent performance within their respective domains and represent advanced solutions in the field of artificial intelligence.

FAQ on Microsoft Copilot vs. ChatGPT

What is Microsoft Copilot?

• Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant integrated into Microsoft 365 apps. It uses large language models (LLMs) and data from Microsoft Graph to enhance productivity and automate tasks.

What is ChatGPT?

• ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is a conversational AI model that generates human-like text and can be used in various applications, including customer support and content creation.

How do Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT differ?

• Purpose: Copilot is designed for specific applications like coding and productivity, while ChatGPT is a general conversational AI.
• Integration: Copilot is embedded in Microsoft tools; ChatGPT is accessible via web or API.
• Customization: Copilot adapts to specific tasks, whereas ChatGPT handles diverse language tasks based on prompts.

Which should I use, Microsoft Copilot or ChatGPT?

• Use Copilot if you need AI assistance within Microsoft 365 or for coding.
• Use ChatGPT for general conversational needs, content creation, or when experimenting with AI chatbots.