419810 – Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft 365): UX Transparency for Web Queries (archived)

Product:

Copilot

Platform:

Android, iOS, Web, Windows Desktop, World tenant

Status:

Launched

Change type:

Links:

Details:

With UX transparency of web grounding in Copilot, users will now be able to see the exact queries sent by Copilot in response to a user's prompt to the web for grounding, along with the list of websites being queried, enhancing their awareness over the process.

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:
General Availability

Created:
2024-10-05

updated:
2025-03-04

Public Preview Start Date

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Docu to Check

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MS workload name

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

User Trust and Transparency
If the change is implemented without preparation, users may feel overwhelmed or confused by the visibility of queries, leading to distrust in the system's ability to provide accurate information.
   - roles: End Users, Product Managers
   - references: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/10/01/introducing-microsoft-copilot-in-microsoft-365/, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/10/02/microsoft-copilot-what-it-is-and-how-it-works/

Performance Impact
Without proper preparation, the increased transparency may lead to slower response times as the system processes and displays additional information about queries, negatively affecting user experience.
   - roles: IT Support, End Users
   - references: https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-copilot-what-you-need-to-know/, https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-copilot-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work

Configutation Options**

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explanation for non-techies**

Imagine you have a personal assistant who helps you find information online. This assistant listens to your questions and then goes off to search the web for answers. Previously, you might not have known exactly what your assistant was doing or which websites they were visiting to gather information.

Now, with the new changes in Microsoft Copilot, it's like your assistant is showing you their notebook. You can see the exact questions they are asking the internet on your behalf and which websites they are visiting to find the answers. This is similar to having a transparent window into their process, so you know exactly how they are getting the information you need.

This transparency is helpful because it allows you to understand and trust the process more. It's like watching a chef prepare your meal in an open kitchen. You see the ingredients and the steps taken to create your dish, which can make you feel more confident about what you're eating. Similarly, with Copilot, you can feel more confident about the information you're receiving because you know where it’s coming from and how it was gathered.

This feature is being developed for various platforms, including iOS, Android, desktop, and web, making it widely accessible. It's part of the ongoing development of Microsoft Copilot, aiming to enhance user experience by making the process more transparent and understandable.