University IT
Microsoft Copilot Chat
This service provides access to Microsoft Copilot Chat (formerly Bing Chat Enterprise). This does not include the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on, which integrates AI directly into apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, or GitHub Copilot for code generation. Those services are licensed separately.
Microsoft Copilot Chat is a generative AI assistant available to the Stanford community. It uses the latest AI models to answer questions, summarize content, and generate text or images. When you sign in with your Stanford SUNet ID, your data is protected—chat data is not saved, Microsoft has no eyes-on access, and your data is not used to train the models.
Features
- Conversational search: Ask complex questions and get summarized answers with citations.
- Content generation: Draft emails, essays, code snippets, and more.
- Image creation: Generate images from text descriptions using DALL-E 3.
- Summarization: Upload PDFs or paste text to get quick summaries and key takeaways.
Differences between Copilot versions
The information on this page is for Microsoft Copilot Chat, a free service. When using Copilot, it's important to select the right tool for your needs and data classification. Refer to the GenAI Tool Evaluation Matrix to learn more.
Microsoft Copilot Chat
- Cost: Free with an active SUNet ID
- Access: Web-based chat via browser or mobile app
- Data: Approved for Low and Moderate Risk Data only
Microsoft 365 Copilot (paid add-on)
- Cost: Annual per-user fee (see pricing under ordering instructions)
- Access: Integrated directly into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams
- Data: Approved for High Risk and PHI data (within the Stanford M365 tenant)
GitHub Copilot
- Cost: Monthly license fee paid by department
- Access: Code completion within IDEs (VS Code, Visual Studio, etc.)
- Data: Approved for Low and Moderate Risk Data only (within Cardinal Cloud GitHub)
Designed for
All Stanford faculty, staff, and students
Requirements
A full-service SUNet ID
Data security
As a generative AI service, Microsoft Copilot requires caution. Use is restricted based on the version you are using.
Microsoft Copilot Chat (free) is approved for Low and Moderate Risk Data ONLY. Do not input High Risk Data into the free Copilot Chat window.
Prohibited data for the free Microsoft Copilot Chat includes:
- Protected Health Information (PHI)
- Social security numbers
- Financial account numbers
- High-risk research data
If you require AI for High Risk or PHI data, you must purchase a license for Microsoft 365 Copilot and use it within the authenticated Stanford M365 environment.
Always consider responsible AI best practices.
Rates
Free of charge
Available paid upgrades:
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: Annual fee per user. View pricing and ordering instructions.
- GitHub Copilot: Billed monthly. Requires an active Cardinal Cloud Azure subscription.
Get started
- Visit http://m365.cloud.microsoft/chat
- Select Sign in with a work or school account
- Enter your Stanford email address and authenticate with two-step login
- Look for the "Protected" badge in the chat window to ensure your session is secure
Get help
For assistance, please submit a Help request.
Learn more
- Microsoft Copilot ordering instructions - For paid M365 Copilot licenses
- Gen AI at Stanford - Overview of generative AI at Stanford
- GenAI Topics and Services List
- GenAI Tool Evaluation Matrix - See approved tools and data classifications
- Responsible AI at Stanford - Security guidelines and best practices
- Stanford AI Playground - Stanford-managed platform to explore AI models and tools like GPT-4 and Gemini
See also
Related Stanford service:
Training resources:
- Microsoft Copilot Learning Hub
- UIT Tech Training: Upcoming AI Sessions
