CoPilot for Microsoft 365

[chaplic]

The 300 seat requirement is related to the fact the hardware required to achieve this is considerable.

 

I’ve used it to summarise meetings and take notes and it’s excellent, albeit with a dry sense of humour. You could imagine a teacher using it to make notes from a teaching session

[Ditto]

I know teachers are using ChatGPT for lesson planning, test question setting and other stuff. I know someone paying about £30 per month for personal use of ChatGPT, but in truth for business purposes. Given those options are out there, I can't see an educational environment sign up 300+ users to the product. It's still relative niche and mostly for enthusiasts. I can't think of another niche product requiring everyone in a corporation to pay for a license where in truth a small number of employees will be actively using it. I suspect the pricing model will change dramatically as the product matures, as the proposed model is insanity.

[Mr.Ben]

Not unlike Microsoft though, Defender pricing is just as ridiculous, on a per user rather than device basis, with shared devices an additional cost.

[Ditto]

I asked ChatGPT for an opinion of the licensing.

 

As of my last update, Microsoft introduced "Co-pilot," an AI-powered code suggestion tool, as part of GitHub's offerings. It's important to note that Co-pilot is not directly tied to Microsoft's traditional licensing model but rather falls under GitHub's subscription plans. At its launch, Microsoft and GitHub made Co-pilot available primarily as part of GitHub's paid plans. The requirement for 300+ users to access Co-pilot was linked to GitHub's Team plan, which included advanced collaboration and security features alongside Co-pilot. The intent behind such limitations might have been to target larger teams or organizations rather than individual users or smaller groups. This approach might have been geared towards organizations where larger teams are likely to benefit more from collaborative features and where access to Co-pilot could have a greater impact on collective productivity. However, software licensing and access models are often subject to change based on market demand, feedback, and evolving strategies. There might have been updates or adjustments to Co-pilot's availability and accessibility since then, aimed at accommodating various user segments or altering subscription tiers. It's recommended to directly check GitHub's current subscription plans and offerings or their official announcements for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding Co-pilot's availability and the requirements to access this tool.

 

Seems a fair summary...

[FragglePete]

Just looked our tenant - it shows under our A3 Faculty Licenses but not for A3 Student Use Benefit - which I guess is a good thing.

 

Just logged into it (https://copilot.microsoft.com/) and asked it a few questions.

 

Pete

[Theblacksheep]

I know teachers are using ChatGPT for lesson planning, test question setting and other stuff. I know someone paying about £30 per month for personal use of ChatGPT, but in truth for business purposes..

 

Unless they are using the API, they store that data, use it for training and it requires manual opt-out.

 

Childrens names are almost certainly being entered.

[Ditto]

Unless they are using the API, they store that data, use it for training and it requires manual opt-out.

 

Childrens names are almost certainly being entered.

I have nothing that suggests pupil names are being submitted. In the most active case, the teacher is teaching A' Level computing and conversations suggest the teacher is more than capable of using an API and GDPR aware, but I agree there is a wider danger here. Some pro-active education via the DPO would be sensible.

[Roberto]

but I agree there is a wider danger here. Some pro-active education via the DPO would be sensible.

 

One of our reasons for buying into Copilot was to have a sanctioned alternative to ChatGPT, because people are going to use it anyway whether the business / school / DPO / etc like it or not.

[RobFuller]

If you have a 365 tenant then I would take this approach and block ChatGPT as they have all the benefits with the added data protection safeguards. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/education-blog/managing-copilot-formerly-bing-chat-enterprise-access-for/ba-p/4008942. Interestingly not available for under 18 student accounts.

 

Looking forward to getting this setup when we switch over to Fortinet, Monitoring AI Prompts with FortiGate and Fastvue Reporter

Edited December 19, 2023 by RobFuller

[Ditto]

One of our reasons for buying into Copilot was to have a sanctioned alternative to ChatGPT, because people are going to use it anyway whether the business / school / DPO / etc like it or not.

The affordability kills it for all bar a trivial minority in educational settings, so perhaps wryly, we're going to have to rely on educating people be data savvy.

[psydii]

MS Announcement today: "No seat minimum and expanded availability of Copilot for Microsoft 365—including small and medium-sized businesses" (including Education)

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2024/01/15/expanding-copilot-for-microsoft-365-to-businesses-of-all-sizes/

 

[Ditto]

That widens the market massively and might now be worth investing some time on. I'm charity, not Edu, but having shot the idea from SLT down, as we are way less than 300 seats, now I can go back and say it is worth a look. Training is likely to be key to get the best of that, and perhaps like schools, I've had no technical training since joining!

[ITGuyNW]

It says here from feb 24 A1 will have eligibility

 

Managing Copilot (formerly Bing Chat Enterprise) access for Faculty and Higher Education 18+ student - Microsoft Community Hub

 

Does that mean A1 customers will be eligible to buy it? or will some of it be a part of A1?

[RobFuller]

It will be included free of charge!

 

 

It says here from feb 24 A1 will have eligibility

 

Managing Copilot (formerly Bing Chat Enterprise) access for Faculty and Higher Education 18+ student - Microsoft Community Hub

 

Does that mean A1 customers will be eligible to buy it? or will some of it be a part of A1?

[RobFuller]

Looks like you can buy Copilot without the 300 seat count, might enquire on pricing...

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2024/01/15/expanding-copilot-for-microsoft-365-to-businesses-of-all-sizes/

[Ditto]

Looks like you can buy Copilot without the 300 seat count, might enquire on pricing...

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2024/01/15/expanding-copilot-for-microsoft-365-to-businesses-of-all-sizes/

 

Of course, AI won't be able to predict the future, it's 'intelligence' really comes from the past

 

It's worth looking but 4 or 5 comments!

[mitchell1981]

Hmm, so it seems they have removed the 300 seat requirement for the E type licences but not the A type licences yet. I just tried to buy a licence, and it won't accept it. Says I need an E3 or E5, or Business Standard, or Premium, to qualify.

 

I'm sure we'll get there in the end!

[psydii]

Hmm, so it seems they have removed the 300 seat requirement for the E type licences but not the A type licences yet. I just tried to buy a licence, and it won't accept it. Says I need an E3 or E5, or Business Standard, or Premium, to qualify.

 

I'm sure we'll get there in the end!

 

Given the timing I expect there will be a big thing at BETT.

[RobFuller]

We are currently on A5 and have been quoted £24.65 per month per user for CoPilot 365. No minimum user count.

[atcoates]

Good video here from Andy Malone and Jeremy Chapman from Microsoft.

 

[mitchell1981]

We are currently on A5 and have been quoted £24.65 per month per user for CoPilot 365. No minimum user count.

 

Could you confirm which reseller you spoke to? VeryPC told me it's still not available for schools when I asked for a quote a few days ago. Thanks.

[RobFuller]

Phoenix Software

[markberry]

Hmm, so it seems they have removed the 300 seat requirement for the E type licences but not the A type licences yet. I just tried to buy a licence, and it won't accept it. Says I need an E3 or E5, or Business Standard, or Premium, to qualify.

 

I'm sure we'll get there in the end!

 

I have the same issue. Tells me it's available to buy but then says I don't meet the minimum requirement of having E3 or E5. We are on A5!

[mrnoisy]

£2922 for 10 licenses, seems like a bargain 🤣

[Roberto]

£2922 for 10 licenses, seems like a bargain 🤣

 

That's about 83p per person per day. If you can't recover value of at least £1 per person per day from the licence (which in business is trivially easy) then yes, Copilot for M365 may not be for you.