Table of Contents:

Overview

Washington State University provides access to Microsoft Copilot Chat (free) for faculty, staff, and students with a Microsoft 365 A3 or A5 license. Copilot Chat (free) is a web-based generative AI assistant currently powered by OpenAI's GPT models. It enhances productivity and digital fluency through natural language interactions. For a detailed overview of Copilot Chat’s capabilities and limitations, visit Microsoft’s official documentation.

Important: This article is specifically about Copilot Chat (free), the standalone AI chat experience. It does not cover Microsoft 365 Copilot (paid), which integrates with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. 

Accessing Copilot Chat

To use Copilot Chat (free):

  1. Visit https://m365.cloud.microsoft/chat/?auth=2 
  2. Select Sign in with a work or school account
  3. Enter your WSU Network ID (NID), password, and complete two-factor authentication
  4. Use a modern browser (Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari) for best performance

If signed in correctly, you should see a green "protected" shield in the upper-right corner of the interface, confirming that your session is secured with Microsoft's Commercial Data Protection.

If you do not see the green shield, contact the Crimson Service Desk.

Learning to Use Copilot Chat

To get started, visit this Microsoft Learn module: Get started with Microsoft 365 Copilot in Business Chat. It includes examples, best practices, and step-by-step guidance for using the chat interface productively.

Further guidance is available in this Confluence article: Microsoft Copilot Chat Guidance

Limitations and Boundaries

WSU Copilot Chat (free) does not integrate with your Microsoft 365 data. This means it cannot access:

  • Emails in Outlook
  • Files in OneDrive or SharePoint
  • Messages in Teams
  • Other MS Office apps

Access to the embedded Microsoft 365 Copilot (paid) functionality (in-app AI features) requires a separate license. For details, visit Getting Started with Microsoft 365 Copilot at WSU article.

What is the difference between Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat?

Privacy and Security

WSU users accessing Copilot Chat (free) with their official credentials benefit from Copilot Privacy and Protections, which include:

  • Prompts and responses are not used to train large language models.
  • Prompts and responses may be logged and subject to retention policies, which can allow users to revisit previous chats.
  • Data is handled under enterprise protections with Microsoft acting as a data processor.
  • External plugin/app support is disabled to ensure data remains in-house and under organizational control.

You can view the WSU Cloud Acceptable Use Matrix for clear guidelines on acceptable data usage for Copilot Chat.

Responsible AI

Microsoft built Copilot following its Responsible AI Standard and AI Principles. These guidelines ensure the AI behaves transparently, respects user privacy, and aligns with safety expectations across sectors, including higher education.

Using Generative AI at WSU

For policies and how to responsibly use generative AI tools like Copilot Chat (free) in your work or studies, visit the Artificial Intelligence (AI) at Washington State University article.

Support

For technical issues, login problems, or questions about protected sessions, contact your WSU IT team or the Crimson Service Desk.