180185 – Outlook: Copilot in Outlook (archived)

Product:

Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Outlook

Platform:

Android, iOS, Mac, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Feature update, Admin impact

Links:

Details:

Copilot in Outlook helps you stay on top of your inbox and create impactful communication in a fraction of the time. Copilot can now summarize an email thread and quickly jump to the source of the summarized content, suggest action items, and draft new messages or replies. Copilot also coaches you on how to best get your message across and you can adjust the tone and length of your message. These features will be available in Outlook for Mac, web, iOS, Android, and the new Outlook for Windows.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2023-10-13

updated:
2024-04-01

Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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More Info URL

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Direct effects for Operations**

- Direct Impact on IT Operations
- Potential increase in system resource usage due to the AI processing demands of Copilot.
- Roles Impacted: IT Administrators, System Engineers
- Dependency: Increased load on email servers and network bandwidth may affect other services like SharePoint and Teams.
- Need for updated training and support documentation for IT staff to assist users with new features.
- Roles Impacted: IT Support Staff, Training Coordinators
- Interdependency: Coordination with HR for training schedules and materials.

- Direct Impact on IT Services
- Possible integration issues with existing email filtering and security solutions, leading to delays in email processing.
- Roles Impacted: Security Analysts, IT Operations Managers
- Dependency: Email security services (e.g., anti-spam, encryption) may require updates to accommodate new features.
- Risk of user resistance or confusion due to changes in user interface and functionality, potentially leading to increased support tickets.
- Roles Impacted: IT Support Staff, User Experience Designers
- Interdependency: Collaboration with User Experience teams to ensure smooth transitions.

- Direct Impact on IT Users
- Enhanced productivity through improved email management, but potential for information overload if users do not adapt quickly.
- Roles Impacted: All Employees, Team Leaders
- Dependency: User training and adaptation to new features will be crucial for maximizing benefits.
- Changes in communication style and expectations as AI-generated suggestions may alter how users interact with email.
- Roles Impacted: Marketing Teams, Project Managers
- Interdependency: Alignment with communication policies and guidelines to ensure consistency across the organization.

References:
- Microsoft Copilot in Outlook Overview: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot-outlook
- Impact of AI on Workplace Productivity: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/01/23/how-ai-is-changing-the-way-we-work/?sh=1f3f2c1f4b9b

Opportunities**

- Enhanced Email Management
- Opportunity: Implement Copilot's email summarization and action item suggestion features to streamline email management and reduce time spent on inbox management.
- Benefits: Increased productivity for roles such as project managers and team leads who handle numerous email threads daily.
- Reference: Microsoft’s overview of Copilot features highlights its ability to summarize threads and suggest actions, which can significantly reduce email overload (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot-outlook).

- Improved Communication Quality
- Opportunity: Utilize Copilot's coaching features to enhance the quality of internal and external communications, ensuring messages are clear and appropriately toned.
- Benefits: Marketing and sales teams can benefit from improved messaging, leading to better engagement with clients and stakeholders.
- Reference: The ability to adjust tone and length in messages can help tailor communications to different audiences, as noted in Microsoft’s Copilot documentation (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot-outlook).

- Streamlined IT Support Operations
- Opportunity: Leverage Copilot to draft responses to common IT support queries, allowing IT staff to focus on more complex issues and improve response times.
- Benefits: IT support teams can enhance their efficiency, leading to quicker resolutions for end-users and improved overall user satisfaction.
- Reference: The drafting capabilities of Copilot can assist IT personnel in managing repetitive tasks, as described in the features of Copilot for Outlook (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot-outlook).

Potentional Risks**

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Data Protection**

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Hypothetical Work Council Statement**

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DPIA Draft**

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