7 Ways To Use Copilot In Classic Outlook - And Why I Ultimately Turned It Off

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How I tried but yet abnormal Copilot successful classical Microsoft Outlook
Lance Whitney / Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

  • Copilot tin thief you write, respond to, and summarize emails.
  • I tried Copilot successful classical Outlook, but didn't find it worthy keeping.
  • You tin disable Copilot successful classical Outlook, but nan process is kludgy.

I've been connected nan obstruction arsenic acold arsenic my ain usage of generative AI. As a researcher, I do trust connected ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and different bots to thief maine analyse challenging questions and problems. But arsenic a writer, I debar utilizing AI to make immoderate contented I should constitute myself. That includes not only articles and stories, but besides emails and texts.

But pinch AI progressively infiltrating nan applications I usage each day, nan enticement is ever location to return it for a spin. Here, though, I'm speaking specifically of Microsoft Outlook. I trust connected nan classical type of Outlook to send, receive, and negociate my emails.

I person a Microsoft 365 Family subscription, which serves up Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Access, and Publisher. Among these, I usage Word, Excel, and Outlook each day. Last year, Microsoft added its Copilot AI to astir of nan programs successful nan suite, pinch a value increase, of course. And now Copilot is disposable successful classical Outlook, arsenic good arsenic nan caller Outlook app.

Also: Microsoft gives Copilot a look - here's really to effort your caller Appearance chat buddy

After checking retired Copilot successful each nan different programs successful nan suite, I yet disabled nan AI entirely truthful it doesn't moreover appear. This was particularly nan lawsuit successful Word, which different flashes an annoying connection connected each caller document, inviting you to picture what you'd for illustration to constitute aliases draught pinch Copilot.

With Copilot for Outlook besides staring maine successful nan look each clip I effort to commencement aliases respond to an email, I decided to springiness it a shot. Here's what happened.

When you commencement a caller email, a announcement successful nan assemblage tells you to property Alt+I to draught pinch Copilot. Triggering that cardinal operation displays a punctual successful which you tin picture nan type of email you want to generate. 

Also: I usage Edge arsenic my default browser - but its caller AI mode is unreliable and annoying

To spot really this fared, I wrote nan pursuing description: "Write a screen missive applying for a occupation arsenic a freelance exertion reporter. Mention my acquisition penning for ZDNET, CNET, TechRepublic, and PCMag. Also mention that I wrote a file for TechNet Magazine." I past clicked nan Generate fastener to show Copilot to create nan draft.

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Describe your caller email
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
View nan draft
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

To woody pinch nan draft, I could support it arsenic is, discard it, aliases regenerate it to effort again. Of greater value, I could besides set nan parameters to make it longer, shorter, much direct, much formal, aliases much casual. I could moreover move it into a poem (hmm, a screen missive written arsenic a poem). I tried each of these variations to spot really they affected nan email.

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Try different variations
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Among each of them, nan casual 1 worked champion for this business since it was friendlier and much personable than nan different variations. But moreover this type would've required a adjacent magnitude of editing to personalize nan email and make it sound for illustration thing I would write. 

Also: You tin hunt for files successful Windows utilizing Copilot now - here's how

The draught was adjuvant successful that it did supply guidance connected really to see definite aspects of my background. But yet penning nan full email myself from nan get-go would've proved easier and much satisfying.

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Choose a circumstantial variation
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

I besides tested Copilot to spot really it would respond to an email. Here, I opened an email from my inbox and clicked Reply. Again, a announcement popped up telling maine to property Alt+I. Doing truthful asked maine to picture nan type of email I wanted. For this one, I replied to an email from nan organizers of a Doctor Who normal successful nan UK. Here, I asked astir nan photograph op policies.

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Respond to an email
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

After describing what I wanted, I clicked Generate. In response, nan draught appeared. The aforesaid choices were disposable arsenic erstwhile creating a caller email -- Keep, Discard, aliases Generate. I could besides petition a circumstantial revision to make it longer, shorter, much formal, much direct, much casual, aliases poetic. Here, I chose nan poetic type conscionable to make it sound a spot quirky and nerdy, due for nan subject. In this case, nan poem that Copilot generated was clever and creative, truthful it fresh nan mood.

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Try different variations
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Next, I tried summarizing an email. For this, I opened an email from Microsoft pinch accusation connected nan latest features for Windows insiders. After I clicked nan Summarize button, Copilot generated and displayed a summary of nan email pinch nan cardinal details. I was past capable to transcript and complaint it pinch a thumbs up aliases thumbs down. 

Also: How to region Copilot from your Microsoft 365 scheme - earlier you person to salary for it

Though nan summary was useful, I recovered it overmuch excessively brief. I wished that immoderate of nan points had been fleshed retired further. At nan very least, I'd for illustration to spot Microsoft connection an action to make a longer summary, which I expressed successful my logic for giving it a thumbs down.

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Summarize an email
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

Though Copilot successful Outlook tin beryllium of immoderate value, I yet didn't find it worthy nan effort, astatine slightest for me. To debar seeing Copilot each clip I utilized Outlook, I decided to disable nan AI. Well, that's easier said than done. Word, Excel, and nan different programs successful nan suite see an action to disable Copilot. But location is nary specified prime successful classical Outlook.

Instead, you person to disable it successful 1 of nan different versions of Outlook, specified arsenic nan caller Windows app, Outlook connected nan web, Outlook for iOS, Outlook for Android, aliases Outlook for nan Mac. Your alteration past syncs pinch classical Outlook. Yep, nan process is kludgy, but doable.

Also: How to encrypt immoderate email - successful Outlook, Gmail, and different celebrated services

Here, I abnormal it done nan new Outlook app for Windows arsenic that was nan astir accessible. To do that successful Windows 10 aliases 11, caput to nan Start paper and click Outlook. In nan caller Outlook app, click nan Copilot fastener successful nan precocious correct and prime Settings. At nan Settings window, move disconnected nan move for Copilot. If you person much than 1 email relationship that supports Copilot, click nan dropdown paper astatine nan top, move to each account, and move disconnected nan switch. When done, click Save.

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Disable Copilot
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

After disabling Copilot successful immoderate of nan different Outlook apps, let clip for nan alteration to sync. Open classical Outlook. The Copilot fastener should nary longer appear, while nan Draft pinch Copilot action won't popular up successful a caller email aliases a reply.

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Check classical Outlook
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET
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