Copilot for Outlook is Microsoft Copilot built into Outlook through integrated buttons. It helps reduce inbox work without requiring users to move email into a separate chatbot. Do not confuse it with M365 Copilot Chat or the consumer Copilot and Copilot Pro products; Microsoft uses the Copilot name for several related implementations. section 7.1 section 7.1.1
Use Copilot for Outlook for focused email tasks such as:
- Summarizing an email conversation, including its main points, decisions, action items, and deadlines. section 7.1.1
Summarize a conversation
A useful request is: “Find all email conversations over the past week from Manning.com. Summarize the emails, focusing on the main points, decisions made, and any action items or deadlines.” Read the result against the original messages before relying on it, especially when the conversation is long or contains many irrelevant emails. section 7.1.2
Copilot can also help assess suspicious email. In Outlook, obtain the message source or headers, then provide that content for analysis. It can identify authentication problems involving SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, but its assessment should support—not replace—security judgment. One demonstrated analysis recognized a likely phishing attempt but did not explicitly identify every link. section 7.1.3
The convenience comes with boundaries. Outlook Copilot uses concise prompts and predefined options rather than offering the flexibility of a general-purpose chatbot. Searching hundreds or thousands of emails can omit relevant information, while email rules, folder organization, and creating calendar meetings remain limited or unavailable. section 7.1.1 section 7.1.2
Table 7.1 Examples of AI-enhanced email management
|
Task
|
Prompt
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|---|---|
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Summarize an email conversation.
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Find all email conversations over the past week from Manning.com. Summarize the emails, focusing on the main points, decisions made, and any action items or deadlines.
|
|
Respond to emails using AI.
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Craft a response to the following email that addresses all questions asked, reiterates any important points, and proposes next steps.
|
|
Draft emails with AI assistance.
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Help me draft an email to [recipient’s name/role] regarding [topic], ensuring it’s clear, concise, and professional.
|
|
Decode technical jargon in emails.
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Explain the technical terms found in the attached email in layman’s terms, ensuring clarity and accessibility for non-specialist readers.
|
|
Check emails for tone, clarity, and professionalism.
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Review my draft email below for tone, clarity, and professionalism, and suggest any necessary revisions.
|
|
Find unread or follow-up emails.
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Identify all unread emails or emails that require a follow-up in my inbox from the past week.
|
|
Draft an email for various target groups on the same topic.
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Draft a single email about [topic] that is suitable for sending to different target groups, including [group 1], [group 2], and [group 3], ensuring it resonates with each audience.
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Tailor messages to your audience.
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Adapt the following message for [specific audience], considering their interests, knowledge level, and cultural context.
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Deal with technical jargon.
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Rewrite the following sentences to remove technical jargon and make the information accessible to a general audience.
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|
Make quick announcements.
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Compose a brief announcement about [topic/event] that is informative and engaging for the entire team.
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|
Provide feedback and suggestions.
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Formulate constructive feedback and practical suggestions for the attached project proposal, ensuring the tone is encouraging and supportive.
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Maintain inbox zero.
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Provide guidance on effective strategies and best practices for managing a high volume of emails, with the goal of achieving and maintaining an organized, prioritized inbox that supports the concept of 'inbox zero'.
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Browse reusable prompts for summarizing conversations, drafting replies, explaining jargon, and reviewing email tone. section 7.1.1
