For Microsoft search engineers, few compliments are more significant than users switching their default search engine from Google to Bing. Achieving this shift required a multibillion-dollar investment from Microsoft to integrate OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology into Bing. Given Bing’s global market share of 3.3% compared to Google’s 91.6%, such drastic measures were necessary.

However, my experience isn’t just with Bing; it’s with Copilot, Microsoft’s rebranded AI chatbot integrated into Bing. Copilot distinguishes itself by operating as three GPT engines in one, with modes named balanced, precise, and creative.

Copilot’s Unique Features

Balanced and Precise Modes:

• Utilize GPT-4, OpenAI’s advanced model with over 1 trillion parameters, significantly more than ChatGPT 3.5’s 175 billion.
• Deliver high accuracy and fine-tuning.

Creative Mode:

• Uses GPT-4 Turbo, with data up until April 2023 and the capacity for extensive responses, equivalent to 300 pages of text.
• Provides more synthesized and nuanced answers.

Performance in Different Scenarios

Shopping

Copilot excelled in providing detailed descriptions and comparisons, particularly in niche areas such as the ongoing changes in Huy Fong Foods’ sriracha sauce. It accurately highlighted the differences between Huy Fong’s new sriracha and Underwood Ranches’ alternative, matching user reviews and testimonials.

For more complex comparisons, like choosing between the LG OLED C3 and G3 TV models, Copilot’s creative mode gave more thought-out responses, offering deeper insights into brightness, design, and performance.

Key Features:

• Detailed product comparisons
• Accurate and up-to-date information
• Easy-to-follow language

Recipes

When generating recipes, Copilot performed variably across its modes. In creative mode, it provided a basic chicken tikka recipe but missed some specialized ingredients. Switching to precise mode yielded a more comprehensive list, including less common spices like kasuri methi.

Key Features:

• Basic and detailed recipe generation
• Mode-specific ingredient lists
• Practical cooking instructions

Research

Copilot stands out as a research tool, effectively synthesizing information from multiple sources and providing direct links to research papers. It demonstrated a strong understanding of complex topics such as the relationship between homeschooling and neuroplasticity.

Key Features:

• Efficient information synthesis
• Direct links to research sources
• In-depth and nuanced explanations

Summarizing Articles

While Copilot can summarize articles, it, like other AI chatbots, sometimes misses the central focus. It captures basic points but may overlook the primary theme, as seen in an analysis of an AI-related article from CES 2024.

Key Features:

• Quick article summaries
• Basic point extraction
• Suitable for brief overviews

Travel

Copilot performed exceptionally well in creating travel itineraries, even for less popular destinations like Columbus, Ohio. It provided detailed recommendations for locations and restaurants, verified for accuracy, and included emojis for better readability.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive travel itineraries
• Accurate recommendations
• User-friendly format with emojis

Writing Emails

Copilot excels at drafting emails, whether formal or informal. However, it has limitations in handling sensitive topics, unlike other AI chatbots such as Claude, which can tackle more controversial subjects.

Key Features:

• Versatile email drafting
• Adjustable tone
• Restrained handling of explicit content

Comparison with Other AI Chatbots

Versatility:

• Copilot offers creative and precise modes, which other chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini do not natively provide.

Accuracy:

• Consistently links to real sources and minimizes hallucinations, making it reliable for factual information.

Limitations:

• High guardrails prevent it from engaging in certain discussions, a restriction not present in all competitors.

Final Thoughts

Microsoft Copilot, powered by GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo, stands out as an excellent AI chatbot. It offers versatility, accuracy, and a user-friendly presentation. Although it lacks some of the flexibility seen in Claude, Copilot typically performs at or beyond its level for most tasks. Given that accessing GPT-4 tech with ChatGPT requires a subscription, Copilot’s free availability makes it a compelling choice for users seeking advanced AI capabilities.

By offering a combination of detailed and bullet-list information, this expanded article provides a thorough review of Microsoft Copilot’s capabilities and performance.