Exploring the Future of Productivity with Microsoft Copilot Part 4
In my last blog post, I explored the capabilities of Microsoft Word when coupled with Microsoft Copilot, and it delivered mostly as expected. This isn’t to say I was underwhelmed; it is more the case that I’ve been using ChapGPT since its release. That said the addition of Copilot does bring some nice advances.
Microsoft claim: “Copilot with PowerPoint stands as a powerful tool designed to meet the ever-increasing demand for high-quality presentations by enhancing both efficiency and creativity”, so is Copilot with PowerPoint a game-changer?
I have to say yes, I have presented at events all over Europe and North America on numerous technologies, innovations, concepts, and emerging standards. I have often sat and stared at a blank PowerPoint screen, trying to think of where to start. I normally storyboard first, creating headings, and move on from there. Not anymore! – You can prompt Copilot to create a presentation on any subject from scratch and off it goes. More important from a business perspective, and more impressive in my opinion is when you prompt Copilot to create a presentation based on an existing document/documents.
The result of both of the above is a quickly delivered presentation with graphics, charts, and more impressive still Speaker Notes. Now you have the basic structure you can go through slide by slide, asking Copilot to revise things as you go – another bullet point here, a different image there. It is hard to argue that this isn’t a huge improvement in productivity.
Collaboration and Feedback
Modern presentations are often collaborative efforts, requiring input and feedback from multiple stakeholders. Microsoft Copilot facilitates seamless collaboration by integrating with other Microsoft Office applications such as Teams and OneDrive. This means I can easily share my presentations, receive real-time feedback, and incorporate suggestions from colleagues. Copilot will also track changes and manage version histories, ensuring that all contributions are documented, and the presentation evolves cohesively.
Accessibility and Inclusivity
Ensuring that presentations are accessible to all audience members is a crucial consideration. Microsoft Copilot assists in creating inclusive content by offering accessibility checks and suggestions. It can identify potential issues such as insufficient color contrast or missing alternative text for images and provide solutions to address these problems. This ensures that presentations adhere to accessibility standards and can be effectively understood by individuals with disabilities.
Interactive and Engaging Elements
To avoid ‘Death by PowerPoint’ it is important to go beyond static slides. Microsoft Copilot enables users to incorporate interactive elements such as animations, transitions, and multimedia. These features can be used to highlight key points, illustrate complex ideas, and keep the audience engaged throughout the presentation. Copilot’s recommendations ensure that these elements are used effectively, enhancing the overall impact of the presentation.
Seamless Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem
Because Copilot is connected to the broader Microsoft ecosystem, it is easy to import data from Excel, incorporate insights from Word documents, and collaborate via Teams without leaving PowerPoint.
Conclusion
A coincidence, but 100% true. Yesterday, at a Christmas event, I was talking to a friend about AI, and how fraudsters are utilizing AI in cybercrime. As we spoke, he told me his daughter, (who holds a senior position in a large national company, and regularly has to give presentations to her Board) had just started using AI. She decided to try Copilot and PowerPoint – the result was the Managing Director congratulating her afterward on one of the best presentations he had seen all year.
Microsoft Copilot with PowerPoint definitely represents a revolutionary step forward in the realm of presentation creation, this is a functionality that you will want to use.