Debunking the 7 Biggest Myths About Microsoft Copilot
- Kwixand Team
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
7 common misconceptions explained about Microsoft Copilot
With AI becoming a staple in modern workplaces, Microsoft Copilot is quietly revolutionizing how professionals interact with familiar tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. But despite being built into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, Copilot is still shrouded in misconceptions and underutilization.
In this article, Jens Baun, Director of Sales at Kwixand Solutions and a Copilot power user, sheds light on how this digital assistant can transform productivity, if users take the time to understand it. Let’s break down the biggest myths, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities around Copilot and why ignoring it could mean falling behind in the modern digital workplace.
Myth 1: “I Don’t Have Copilot.”
When asked about common misconceptions around Microsoft Copilot, Baun doesn’t mince words: “A lot of people haven’t even heard about Copilot. They’re not even aware that millions - and well, billions of people are on the Microsoft platform and they all have Copilot. They just don’t know.”
Despite being integrated into tools people use every day, Copilot often goes unnoticed. The small icon in the upper right-hand corner of Word, Excel, or Outlook may be easy to miss, but the capabilities it unlocks are anything but small.
This lack of awareness is partly due to the spotlight that OpenAI's ChatGPT has received. As Baun puts it, “Everybody tells me that they use ChatGPT and I’m like, ‘That’s great… Are you aware that ChatGPT 5 is actually inside Copilot?’ Most people don’t know that.”
Bottom line is that Copilot is already embedded in Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. If you're using those apps, there's a good chance you already have access, though your IT team may need to enable it.
Myth 2: “Copilot and ChatGPT Are the Same Thing.”
This is another one of the most common misconceptions Baun sees, and it’s a big one. Here’s where the confusion often begins. Both Copilot and ChatGPT use similar underlying language models, but their functionalities differ significantly.
“ChatGPT can see anything on the wide wide web and works from open web data,” explains Baun. “Whereas Copilot can actually see your company data and your personal data. It works within your organization’s internal data.”
This means Copilot can tap into your organization's SharePoint, ERP solution, Excel spreadsheets, Outlook inbox, and even files on your desktop, assuming you give it the appropriate permissions.
Think of ChatGPT as a helpful librarian with a massive collection of public books. Now think of Copilot as your personal research assistant who knows your entire digital workspace, your emails, documents, meetings, and even your writing style.
Myth 3: “Copilot Will Do All the Work for Me.”
A major source of unrealistic expectations is the assumption that Copilot will do everything for you. That’s not how it works and it's not supposed to.
“They named it Copilot,” says Baun. “Think of being on a plane. There’s a pilot flying the plane, and there’s a copilot supporting the pilot… When people believe that Copilot will do the work for them, it will not.”
Instead, Copilot enhances productivity by handling repetitive tasks, summarizing emails, drafting documents, and even helping organize data. But you’re still in control, it’s a tool, not a replacement. Baun adds, “Copilot will help you be even better at doing what you do. It will support you and make you a lot more efficient and faster, more precise but you’re still in the driver’s seat.”
Myth 4: “Copilot Can’t Match My Tone or Writing Style.”
Beyond document creation, Copilot understands the tone of your writing. Baun notes that if his usual emails are light-hearted and informal, Copilot mimics that tone when drafting replies. But it also gives you control.
“Say it’s a very serious email,” he says. “Copilot will ask, ‘Would you like to change the tone?’ And I tell Copilot, ‘Yes, please change it to a more somber or succinct tone.’ It will change the tone, not the content.”
Even better? You don’t need to type a thing. Copilot can now respond to voice commands and reply back in your language. It already supports numerous languages, making it globally accessible and more natural to use.
Myth 5: “Copilot is Only Used for Typing or Writing.”
While most people are associate Copilot in Outlook or Word with drafting emails or documents, Baun is adamant about one application being criminally underrated: Excel.
“Copilot in Excel is the smartest Excel person I’ve ever met,” he says.
Whether you’re highlighting discrepancies, formatting dashboards, or reconciling data, Copilot can automate and accelerate the work. No more endless line-by-line checks or Ctrl+F searches.“Copilot will find it for you, again, saving you humongous numbers of hours.”
Myth 6: “Copilot is Not Secure.”
With any AI tool, security concerns are valid, but Microsoft Copilot is built with enterprise security at its core. Baun addresses this head-on. “Copilot works on data inside your organization,” he explains. “It’s dependent on who logs in, who has access to the data. It will not give everyone access to everything. It’s based on user roles and permissions.”
It follows your organization’s permission and security settings. For example, that means a sales rep won’t suddenly see HR payroll data. And when someone leaves the organization? Their access, and Copilot’s access, goes with them.“There’s no handoff from Copilot to ChatGPT to bring your data out into the wider world,” says Baun.
Myth 7: “Copilot Isn’t That Important Right Now.”
Microsoft has called 2025 “The Year of the Frontier Firm”, a reference to companies embracing tools like Copilot to redefine modern productivity. The warning from Baun is clear:
“You snooze, you lose. Your competitors will put Copilot to use so that their staff will be more competent than your staff.”
In other words, Copilot is not just about productivity, it’s about staying competitive. Teams who learn to use it effectively will outpace those who don’t. And it’s not just Copilot. The next evolution is AI agents, independent tools that act on your behalf. They’ll monitor your emails, create calendar events, and remind you of tasks you promised.
As Baun puts it, “It’s not going to take away your job. It’s a machine. You tell it what to do. It’s not acting on its own.”
Understanding the Limitations and the Opportunities of Microsoft Copilot
While Copilot is a powerful tool, its accuracy and effectiveness depend heavily on the quality of the data it can access and how it's used. By default, Copilot doesn't have access to every location on your device or network—it needs explicit permission to reach local files or certain repositories. Once granted access, its ability to support your work improves significantly.
Two key takeaways emerge:
Permissions matter: Copilot can only work with what it’s allowed to see.
Better data means better results: Organized, relevant, and structured content leads to more useful outputs.
If your digital workspace is cluttered or disorganized, Copilot can still provide support, but its responses may be limited or less precise. Creating a clean, accessible data environment makes Copilot far more valuable in your daily workflows.
Final Thoughts about Copilot
Microsoft Copilot isn’t just another tech feature, it’s a fundamental shift in how work gets done. Whether you’re creating presentations, analyzing data, managing inbox overload, or preparing legal documents, Copilot is designed to support you directly inside the tools you already use.
But like any technology, Copilot is only as effective as the person using it. It’s not a magic button, it’s a powerful assistant that thrives when paired with clear instructions, thoughtful prompts, and a basic understanding of what it can (and can’t) do.
As Baun puts it bluntly: “A fool with a tool is still a fool. So smarten up and learn how to use it… Everybody will benefit from it. Your company, yourself, everybody.” The difference between someone who struggles with Copilot and someone who thrives with it often comes down to one thing: learning.
Fortunately, Microsoft has made it easier than ever to skill up. With free training, videos, learning paths, and even community-led certifications, there’s no excuse not to invest a little time. And the benefits are clear:
More time freed up for meaningful work
Fewer errors and missed deadlines
Smarter, faster decision-making
Greater alignment across teams
Less mental load and email fatigue
Whether you work in sales, HR, finance, marketing, or IT, Copilot can remove the busywork and help you focus on high-value tasks that matter most. And in a competitive market, that productivity edge isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.
Ready to Get Started? Kwixand Solutions Can Help
At Kwixand Solutions, we help businesses harness the full power of Microsoft Copilot and AI to accelerate growth, increase efficiency, and drive meaningful innovation. As a trusted Microsoft Dynamics Partner, we bring the expertise and tools needed to support you at every step of your digital transformation journey. Ready to explore what’s possible? Schedule a consultation today and discover how AI can foster new opportunities for your business.
