Copilot — Your AI assistant guide

Want faster writing, smarter code or quick research help? Copilot tools put AI beside you to speed up work without replacing your judgement. This page shares practical tips, simple setup steps and safety checks so you get useful results from Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot and other assistants.

What is a copilot? It’s an AI that suggests text, code or ideas while you work. Microsoft Copilot lives in Windows and Office apps. GitHub Copilot works inside code editors to help write or complete code. Other copilots show up in browsers or apps to summarize pages, draft emails or brainstorm ideas.

How to use it well: start with a clear task, give context and pick a format. Instead of "write email," try "draft a 3-paragraph email to a client about a delayed shipment, apologetic tone, include next steps." For coding, paste the function header and ask for unit tests or edge-case handling. Small, specific prompts get better answers.

Quick setup: Microsoft and GitHub Copilot

Microsoft Copilot: open Settings in Windows or the Office app, find Copilot or AI assistant, sign in with your Microsoft account and accept permissions. Use the toolbar in Word or the sidebar in Teams to start prompts.

GitHub Copilot: install the official extension in VS Code, sign in with your GitHub account and enable suggestions in the editor. Toggle inline suggestions or request full-function completions. Check extension settings to control telemetry and suggestion behavior.

Smart prompts & safety tips

Write prompts that tell the AI what to include and what to avoid. Ask for sources when you need facts. Always review outputs — Copilot can be confident but wrong. For code, run tests and linters. For documents, verify numbers, dates and legal phrases with a human reviewer.

Privacy matters: check what data the service stores and how it’s used. Turn off sharing or telemetry if you handle sensitive info. At work, follow company policy and never paste private keys, passwords or customer data into prompts.

Cost and limits: many copilots have free tiers and paid plans for heavier use. Try the free version to test the fit, then pick a plan that matches your workload. Teams and enterprises usually get admin controls and stronger privacy options.

Use copilots for drafts, repetitive tasks and idea generation. Don’t rely on them for final legal, medical or safety-critical decisions. Treat them like a teammate — fast and creative, but still needing checks.

Try these exact prompts to get started: "Summarize this 800-word article in four bullets." "Draft a 200-word apologetic email about a delayed delivery with clear next steps." "Write a Python unit test for function process_order that checks empty input, invalid IDs and large orders." "Give me five social posts about a new product launch: playful, formal, urgent, informative, and question-based." After the AI returns results, ask for one round of edits like "Make it shorter by 30% and add a call to action." Small edits save time.

Want updates, hands-on guides and examples? Check our latest posts on Explore Africa Daily to stay current with tools, policies and real-world use cases.