| Made by | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Category | General AI assistants |
| Best for | Architects, Engineers, Contractors, Developers |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Pricing | Paid. Copilot Chat is included with eligible Microsoft 365 business plans; the full Microsoft 365 Copilot is a per-user add-on or bundle. |
| Facts last checked | 12 November 2026 |
Visit Microsoft 365 Copilot (opens in a new tab)Current prices (opens in a new tab)
What can Microsoft 365 Copilot do for AEC teams?
| Task | How it helps, and the check |
|---|---|
| Reports and letters | Drafts reports, specifications and letters in Word from your notes and files. Check every fact and clause. |
| Spreadsheets | Analyses BOQs, schedules and cost sheets in Excel and writes formulas. Check totals against the source. |
| Meetings | Summarises Teams meetings with decisions and actions, for attendees to confirm. |
| Finding information | Finds and summarises information across email, chats and files you have access to. |
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Works inside the Office apps most firms already use.
- Respects existing Microsoft 365 permissions.
- Microsoft states prompts and business data aren't used to train its foundation models.
Limitations
- Full Copilot is a paid add-on per user on top of Microsoft 365.
- Answers are only as good as your file organisation and permissions.
- It doesn't open DWG or Revit model files.
What happens to your data?
- Microsoft says prompts, responses and data accessed through Microsoft Graph aren't used to train foundation models, including those used by Copilot.
- Microsoft says customer content is logically isolated within each tenant and Copilot follows existing permissions; admins can review and manage Copilot activity.
- Admins can choose whether to use Anthropic and OpenAI models offered as subprocessors.
CloudBrain’s view
The obvious choice for firms that already run on Microsoft 365, because it works where your documents, email and meetings are. Tidy up file permissions first, then start with a few licences on document-heavy roles.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot brings Microsoft's AI assistant into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. It works on the documents, email and meetings each user can already access in your organisation's Microsoft 365.
How do AEC teams use Microsoft 365 Copilot?
- Drafting reports and letters in Word
- Working through BOQs and cost sheets in Excel
- Summarising Teams meetings into actions
What should you check before using it on projects?
- Review file sharing and permissions before rollout.
- Check every fact and number in drafts.
- Set an AI usage policy for which data goes where.
Alternatives to Microsoft 365 Copilot
- GeminiGoogle's AI assistant for drafting, research, file analysis and images, built into Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Drive.
- ChatGPTGeneral-purpose AI assistant for drafting, summarising, analysing files and generating images.
- ClaudeGeneral-purpose AI assistant for long documents, drafting, file analysis and coding, with projects for each job.
Frequently asked questions
Is Copilot included in Microsoft 365?
- Copilot Chat is included with eligible Microsoft 365 business plans. The full Microsoft 365 Copilot, which works in your apps and data, is a per-user add-on or bundle.
Does Microsoft train on our files?
- Microsoft says prompts, responses and data accessed through Microsoft Graph aren't used to train foundation models.
Should we tidy file permissions first?
- Yes. Copilot can find anything a user has access to, so review sharing and permissions before rollout.
Sources (checked 12 November 2026)
- Microsoft 365 Copilot for business (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft 365 Copilot privacy (opens in a new tab)
CloudBrain is independent of Microsoft and is not paid for this listing. Features and prices change; check the vendor’s website before you buy. All AI tools