Breaking the Search Habit
In today's fast-paced digital world, digital workers of all kinds are constantly seeking ways to streamline their workflows and enhance productivity. One of the most exciting new tools available is Copilot, an "answer engine" that goes beyond the capabilities of traditional search engines. To help illustrate the unique benefits of Copilot, I recently hosted a game show-style event that showcased its ability to synthesize information from multiple sources and provide comprehensive answers, saving time and energy. The best part? I used Copilot itself to help me create the framework for this gameshow in just a few minutes. I'll include the prompts and responses I used at the end of this article so you can see just how easy it was. So, why a game show format? Ifirmly believe that engagement == better learning so the game show format was designed to be interactive, making it easy for participants to grasp the differences between Copilot and standard search engine experiences. The event featured a series of fun activities and challenges that highlighted Copilot's conversational ease and ability to provide composite answers. For example, participants were asked to solve complex queries using both Copilot and traditional search engines, demonstrating how Copilot's approach simplifies the process. For extra fun, Copilot also provided me with taglines, slogans, and even a fun graphic, all in literally just a few minutes. I went from idea to implementation all in under 20 minutes. Copilot is an Answer Engine Unlike traditional search engines that require multiple queries and manual collation of information, Copilot acts as an answer engine, synthesizing data from various sources to provide a single, comprehensive response. This capability was showcased through the game show activities, where participants experienced firsthand how Copilot can save valuable time and effort. By leveraging Copilot, information professionals can focus on more strategic tasks rather than getting bogged down in repetitive search queries. I find this an incredibly important distinction for a couple reasons... First, we've all adopted search syntax as a second language. When we sit down at that search prompt we choose the right key words, in the right order, and heck… we've gotten pretty good at it. But the same string of keywords sent to Copilot frequently disappoint in results. It can be a challenge to trust the natural language capabilities of Copilot to hear and understand (and communicate back!) without using stilted search syntax tricks. Second, part of how Copilot differentiates itself from standard search queries is that it can actually retrieve information from disparate sources to compare and collate its response. The more specific and natural-language your question the better it seems to response. An example that seemed to resonate with folks during the gameplay: "I am a 49 year old cloud solution architect with 27 years of experience in the IT field, living in the Seattle area and I'm considering moving to Tampa Bay Florida. What can I expect in terms of changes to my cost of living and compensation?" What's important to note is that both contestants are likely to generate an answer, but Copilot excelled by doing it faster and more comprehensively. Collating and presenting data from several different searches as a complete answer, and it self-cites so you can quickly vet your information sources! Most importantly, it invites follow-up questions in a conversational manner that lets you dig further into details or compare more broadly in the abstract. Here's a quick screenshot of the reply generated in just seconds: Breaking the Search Habit The tagline "breaking the search habit" encapsulates the key takeaway from the event. Copilot offers a different experience, emphasizing conversational ease over specific search syntax. Participants learned that talking to Copilot is more intuitive and efficient, allowing them to obtain the information they need without the hassle of crafting precise search queries, and then stitching together data from across a dozen different web results. This shift in approach can significantly enhance productivity and streamline workflows. Conclusion The game show event was a resounding success, providing IT managers and information professionals with a fun and informative way to understand the benefits of Copilot. By breaking the search habit and embracing Copilot's answer engine capabilities, they can unlock new levels of efficiency and productivity. I encourage everyone to explore Copilot and experience the difference for themselves and hope that this approach can be a fun and engaging way to help folks add a powerful new capability to their toolkits. As promised here are the handful of interactions with Copilot that produced everything I needed to make this fun gameshow for my learners in just minutes... Prompt: What is a good name for a gameshow where one contestant using google races another contestant using copilot to accomplish certain searches and tasks? Response: That sounds like a fun and exciting concept for a gameshow, Martin! Here are a few name suggestions for your gameshow: Search Showdown Task Titans Search Sprint Query Quest Search Smackdown Copilot vs. Google Gauntlet Search and Conquer Task Takedown These names capture the competitive and dynamic nature of the gameshow, highlighting the race between contestants using different tools to accomplish searches and tasks. Do any of these names resonate with you? 😊 Prompt: make it sound more race-themed Response: Absolutely, Martin! Here are some race-themed names for your gameshow: Search Speedway Task Turbo Query Grand Prix Search Circuit Copilot Rally Search Sprint Showdown Task Track Race Query Race Royale These names emphasize the fast-paced and competitive nature of the gameshow, giving it a thrilling race-themed vibe. Do any of these names capture the excitement you're looking for? 🚗🏁😊 Prompt riff more on Copilot Rally Response: Sure thing, Martin! Let's dive deeper into the concept of Copilot Rally: Copilot Rally: The Ultimate Search and Task Race Imagine a high-octane gameshow where contestants are pitted against each other in a thrilling race to complete various searches and tasks. One contestant uses Microsoft 365 Copilot, while the other relies on Google. The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high as they navigate through a series of challenges designed to test their speed, accuracy, and efficiency. Segments of Copilot Rally: Speed Search: Contestants race to find specific information as quickly as possible. The Copilot contestant leverages enterprise data and personal insights, while the Google contestant scours the web for answers. Task Turbo: Both contestants are given complex tasks, such as drafting emails, summarizing meetings, or creating documents. The Copilot contestant uses AI-powered assistance to streamline the process, while the Google contestant relies on traditional search methods. Query Quest: A rapid-fire round where contestants answer a series of questions, showcasing the power of their respective tools in providing accurate and relevant information. Rally Recap: A final showdown where contestants summarize their findings and present their solutions. The audience votes on the most comprehensive and efficient performance. Visual and Thematic Elements: The set design features a racetrack motif, with contestants seated in race car-inspired chairs. The host, dressed in a racing suit, keeps the energy high and the competition fierce. The scoreboard resembles a racing leaderboard, tracking each contestant's progress in real-time. Catchphrases and Taglines: "Rev up your engines and get ready for the ultimate search and task race!" "Who will cross the finish line first in the Copilot Rally?" "Buckle up for a high-speed showdown between Copilot and Google!" Does this expanded concept of Copilot Rally capture the excitement and competitive spirit you're envisioning? 🚗🏁😊 Prompt I love this, please tell me more Response: I'm thrilled that you love the concept, Martin! Let's dive even deeper into the Copilot Rally gameshow: Additional Segments and Challenges: Data Dash: Contestants are given a set of data and must analyze it to extract key insights. The Copilot contestant can use AI-powered tools to quickly generate summaries and visualizations, while the Google contestant relies on manual methods and online resources. Creative Circuit: This round tests the contestants' creativity and innovation. They are tasked with creating engaging content, such as a marketing campaign or a social media post. The Copilot contestant can leverage AI to brainstorm ideas and draft content, while the Google contestant searches for inspiration and templates online. Collaboration Challenge: Contestants must work with a virtual team to complete a project. The Copilot contestant uses AI to streamline communication, assign tasks, and track progress, while the Google contestant coordinates through traditional means. Interactive Audience Participation: Live Polls: The audience can participate in live polls to vote on which contestant they think will win each round. This adds an element of suspense and engagement. Audience Challenges: Viewers at home can participate in mini-challenges related to the tasks being performed on the show. Winners can earn prizes or be featured on the show. Special Episodes and Themes: Celebrity Showdowns: Special episodes featuring celebrities or industry experts as contestants, adding star power and excitement to the competition. Themed Races: Episodes with specific themes, such as "Tech Titans," "Marketing Masters," or "Data Wizards," where the tasks are tailored to the theme. Prizes and Rewards: Grand Prize: The overall winner of the Copilot Rally season receives a grand prize, such as a luxury vacation, a tech gadget bundle, or a cash reward. Weekly Winners: Each episode's winner receives a prize, such as gift cards, exclusive merchandise, or a donation to a charity of their choice. Behind-the-Scenes Content: Contestant Interviews: Exclusive interviews with contestants, where they share their strategies, experiences, and thoughts on the competition. Host Insights: Behind-the-scenes commentary from the host, providing additional context and fun facts about the challenges and contestants. Marketing and Promotion: Social Media Campaigns: Engaging social media content, including teaser videos, contestant spotlights, and interactive polls to build excitement and anticipation. Partnerships: Collaborations with tech companies, influencers, and media outlets to promote the show and reach a wider audience. Catchphrases and Taglines: "Get ready to race through the ultimate search and task challenge!" "Who will navigate the Copilot Rally and emerge victorious?" "Join us for a high-speed adventure where AI meets human ingenuity!" I hope these additional details help bring the Copilot Rally concept to life even more! Is there anything specific you'd like to explore further or any other ideas you'd like to add? 🚗🏁😊Announcing the Microsoft 365 SMB Customer Advisory Board
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Microsoft 365 SMB Customer Advisory Board (CAB), an exclusive opportunity for small and medium business (SMB) leaders to connect directly with Microsoft. This initiative is designed to foster a direct line of communication, allowing SMBs to share their insights, challenges, and feedback with Microsoft, ultimately shaping the future of our products and services. Why Join the SMB Customer Advisory Board? The SMB CAB offers a unique platform for SMB leaders to engage in meaningful discussions with Microsoft executives and like-minded peers. Here are some of the key benefits of joining the CAB: Direct Communication: Gain a direct line of communication with Microsoft leaders, providing valuable feedback and insights that will influence product development and strategy. Networking Opportunities: Connect with other SMB leaders, share best practices, and discuss industry trends and challenges. Exclusive Insights: Access exclusive research and behind-the-scenes details from Microsoft, helping you stay ahead of the curve. Influence Product Development: Provide feedback on product strategy, messaging, training content, and pricing, to help align Microsoft solutions with the needs of SMBs. Complimentary Access: Receive a complimentary ticket to the Microsoft 365 Community Conference and exclusive swag. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for the SMB CAB, applicants must meet the following criteria: Hold a strategic decision-maker role (C-Suite, Founder, Business or IT Leader). Represent a business with fewer than 1,000 employees. Be a current customer of Microsoft 365 products. Be based in Canada, LATAM, or the United States. Application Process We are accepting applications through February 28th, 2025. Interested SMB leaders can apply by visiting aka.ms/SMBCAB. The first meeting will kick off in person at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference from May 6-8 in Las Vegas, NV. While in-person attendance is encouraged, it is not required for membership acceptance. Join Us Today! Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to shape the future of Microsoft 365 solutions for SMBs. Apply today to become a trusted advisor and make a meaningful impact on the products and services that drive your business forward. For more information and to apply, visit aka.ms/SMBCAB. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the SMB CAB v-team at SMBCAB@Microsoft.com.What's the biggest challenge your small business is facing with technology right now?
Hi everyone, We're curious to hear from you all about any technology challenges your business is currently facing. Whether it's managing remote work, cybersecurity concerns, or finding the right tools to streamline operations, let's share our experiences and solutions. Your insights could help others in the community who might be facing similar issues. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Hidden Group and Hidden Group Membership
Hi everyone! I have come across a requirement where the client would like to use an excel spreadsheet, a service account and application registration to manage group membership for a confidential group. They would like to create a group from which the members cannot leave, see other team members and cannot see the group itself. Now, I have the concept of the flow with me but for the life of me, I cannot get around to finding/configuring a group that meets the requirement. Have you guys come across this sort of scenario? Group Configuration: Users should not be able to view the group Users should not be able to view members of the group Users should not be able to leave the group Thanks in advance.Understanding the opportunity of Copilot+ PCs: Five benefits for businesses
AI is accelerating. Is your business ready? There’s a growing need for end-to-end technology strategies that include Copilot+ PCs. 75% of global knowledge workers are already using AI tools. 1 Choosing the right endpoints can help you capture the best possible ROI from your AI investment. Copilot+ PCs provide powerful on-device processing to elevate employee productivity, enhance collaboration, and drive innovation. To unlock the full benefits of Copilot+ PCs, it's important to understand how they work and what they can do. This blog defines this new device category and explores its benefits to help you make informed decisions for your business. What is a Copilot+ PC? A Copilot+ PC includes a neural processing unit (NPU). This specialized chip processes AI workloads locally with high performance and efficiency. That creates new possibilities for on-device experiences, including content and image generation, optimizing the performance of AI models and apps, and accelerating compute. CPUs and GPUs can also process AI workloads, but NPUs are specially designed for the task. NPU performance is measured in trillion operations per second (TOPS). NPUs handle AI workloads with extraordinary efficiency. The latest chips are optimized to perform trillions of operations using less than 10 watts of power to deliver strong AI processing while extending battery life. Align the benefits of Copilot+ PCs with your strategic priorities Employees are eager to use AI to save time, accelerate productivity, and get more enjoyment out of their work. 1 The benefits are already tangible, and this device class is highly likely to pay dividends as AI technology continues to advance. Devices designed for AI can help business and IT leaders meet strategic goals in five crucial areas. Empowering talent Getting AI into your workers’ hands means they have more ways to benefit from AI. They’ll be able to take advantage of new NPU-dependent software features sooner. Enhancing experiences PCs with premium hardware and software experiences working in tandem give employees more and better ways to interact with AI tools. Examples include high-quality microphones and voice recognition that enable more accurate AI commands or vibrant screens that make the most of AI image generation capabilities. Unlocking innovation Developers who build apps that use local AI need devices with powerful onboard processing. As AI app development becomes more prevalent, Copilot+ PCs will gain even greater relevance. Outpacing competition AI is a rapidly evolving technology. Organizations with the right endpoints will be in a better position to stay ahead of the pack as new solutions appear. Reinforcing security Features like multi-factor authentication, hardware-based threat protection, and a secure supply chain matter more than ever in this data-dependent AI era. Devices built for enterprise-grade security and privacy enable AI adoption with peace of mind and help your business stay ahead of emerging threats. Devices matter to the success of your AI strategy Understanding the technology behind Copilot+ PCs bolsters your strategic adoption of AI. It helps you choose the devices that suit your vision. Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PCs and Copilot+ PCs accelerate AI ROI by helping you engage employees, boost collaboration, streamline IT, strengthen security, and drive innovation. Start capturing the AI opportunity today. Read the e-book for a step-by-step guide to creating your AI device strategy: https://info.microsoft.com/ww-landing-capturing-the-opportunity-of-microsoft-surface-copilot-plus-pCs.html
Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Data Centre edition- concurrent editing of Microsoft office documents
Does Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Data Centre edition provide real time collaboration or concurrent editing (through workspaces etc) by multiple users on Microsoft office documents hosted on it locally. So for the sole purpose of having concurrent editing feature of office documents, can Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Data Centre edition become an alternative to using Sharepoint server hosted locally or on premise.Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Data Centre edition- concurrent editing of Microsoft office documents
Does Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Data Centre edition provide real time collaboration or concurrent editing (through workspaces etc) by multiple users on Microsoft office documents hosted on it locally. So for the sole purpose of having concurrent editing feature of office documents, can Windows Server 2022 or 2025 Data Centre edition become an alternative to using Sharepoint server hosted locally or on premise.
Now announcing the Microsoft 365 SMB Customer Advisory Board
Applications are now open for the Microsoft 365 SMB Customer Advisory Board (CAB), an exclusive opportunity for small and medium business (SMB) leaders to connect directly with Microsoft. Apply today to become a trusted advisor and make a meaningful impact on the products and services that drive your business forward! For more information, read our recent blog.GCC/GCCH Teams Phone Summit - Feb 25-26 Arlington, VA - REGISTRATION OPEN!
Registration is now open for the GCC/GCCH Teams Phone Summit in Arlington, VA, Feb 25-26. Click here to register: https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=3586839266 We look forward to hosting you at the GCC/GCCH Teams Phone Summit on Tuesday, Feb 25 and Wednesday, Feb 26, in Arlington VA! The This is your opportunity to explore current and coming capabilities to your government environments! You’ll be surrounded by the experts to get answers and receive the tools and resources to navigate your unique voice journey. Day 1 - Tuesday, Feb. 25 - 8:30am-4:30pm Welcome from Javier Vasquez, VP, Microsoft Federal Teams Phone and Device Overview - latest and greatest and coming capabilities Call Records Insights Admin Tips and Tricks Fireside Chat highlighting 3 government agency's journeys to Teams Phone Partner Corner: Momentum Telecom (Lunch Sponsor), CIS Secure (Breakfast Sponsor), Audiocodes, SOFTEL, and Poly Day 2 - Wednesday, Feb. 26 - 9:30am-3:00pm 1:1 time with Dave Jennings - only 3 slots left (11am-12pm, 12-1pm, and 1-2pm EDT) - sign up here: Book Time with Dave! Topical breakout sessions with GCC/GCCH engineering experts (each one delivered three times during the day): Unlocking Insights: Mastering Teams Phone Monitoring and Reporting Teams Fortress: Ensuring Security & Compliance Microsoft Teams Advanced Calling and Beyond MS Teams Phone and the Future of Copilot/AI Lunch coupons to local establishment(s) to be provided Reach out to Danny McBride at dannymcbride@microsoft.com with any questions.
