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Exercise 1: Copilot Chat — Research, Brainstorm & Summarize
Use Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat in both Web and Work modes to research topics, brainstorm ideas, and summarize organizational content.
30 minutes
100
true
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Copilot Chat

Exercise 1: Copilot Chat — Research, Brainstorm & Summarize (30 min)

Copilot Chat is your AI assistant available across Microsoft 365. It operates in two modes:

  • Web mode — Grounded in internet data. Use it for market research, industry trends, and general knowledge.
  • Work mode — Grounded in your organizational data (emails, files, meetings, chats). Use it to summarize internal documents, find information across your Microsoft 365 content, and answer questions about your work.

In this exercise, you'll use both modes to complete tasks relevant to G&J Pepsi.

Task 1: Research and brainstorm with Web mode (10 min)

You need to prepare talking points about beverage industry trends for an upcoming leadership meeting.

  1. Open Microsoft Edge and navigate to https://www.microsoft365.com.

  2. Select Copilot in the left navigation pane if you're not immediately brought to Copilot.

  3. Ensure the Web toggle is selected at the top of the chat.

  4. Enter the following prompt:

    I work at a Pepsi bottling and distribution company. I need to prepare for a leadership meeting next week. Summarize the top 5 trends in the beverage distribution industry for 2026, focusing on sustainability initiatives, supply chain automation, and changing consumer preferences. Present each trend with a brief description and one action item our company could consider.

  5. Review the results. Ask a follow-up question to go deeper on one trend:

    Expand on the supply chain automation trend. What specific technologies are beverage distributors adopting, and what ROI are they seeing? Include examples from companies similar to ours.

  6. Now try a brainstorming prompt:

    I'm leading a cross-functional initiative to improve employee engagement across our distribution centers and corporate offices. Brainstorm 10 creative ideas that would work for a beverage distribution company with both warehouse/field staff and office-based employees. Consider budget-friendly options.

  7. Review the ideas. Ask Copilot to refine the list:

    Narrow this to the top 5 that would be easiest to implement within 90 days. For each, include estimated effort (low/medium/high) and which departments would need to be involved.

Task 2: Summarize organizational content with Work mode (10 min)

Switch to Work mode to query your internal documents.

  1. In Copilot Chat, switch to the Work toggle.

  2. Attach the GJ_Quarterly_Business_Review.docx file from your OneDrive.

  3. Enter:

    Summarize this quarterly business review into 5 key takeaways. Highlight any metrics that are below target and any areas that exceeded expectations. Format as bullet points.

  4. Review the summary. Ask a follow-up:

    Based on this review, what are the top 3 risks heading into next quarter? And what are 3 opportunities we should prioritize?

  5. Now try summarizing a different type of document. Attach the GJ_New_Hire_Onboarding_Guide.docx file and enter the below prompt:

    I'm a manager onboarding a new employee next week. Summarize the key steps I need to complete in the first 30 days according to this onboarding guide. Format as a checklist I can print.

  6. Copy the checklist output — you could paste this into a Word document or email to yourself.

Task 3: Cross-departmental research (10 min)

Practice using Copilot Chat for tasks relevant to your specific department. Choose the scenario closest to your role, or try one that's new to you.

For Accounting / Finance:

"What are the latest FASB updates that would affect a beverage distribution company's revenue recognition? Summarize the key changes and what our accounting team should do to prepare."

For HR / Learning & Development:

"Draft an outline for a 2-hour training session on effective communication skills for warehouse supervisors. Include interactive activities and discussion prompts."

For IT:

"Summarize the pros and cons of migrating our on-premises ERP system to a cloud-based solution. Consider cost, security, downtime, and integration with our current warehouse management system."

For Field Sales / Retail:

"What are the most effective retail merchandising strategies for beverage products in convenience stores? Give me 5 tactics with examples from the industry."

For Operations / Supply Chain:

"Analyze the current challenges in cold chain logistics for beverage distribution. What technologies are being used to reduce spoilage and improve route efficiency?"

Pick one prompt, submit it, and iterate at least once to refine the output.

Task 4: Copilot Pages — Organize and share AI-generated content (bonus, 10 min)

Copilot Pages let you turn a Copilot Chat response into a persistent, editable page that you can share with colleagues and continue to refine with AI.

  1. In Copilot Chat (Work mode), attach the GJ_Quarterly_Business_Review.docx file and enter:

    Create a summary of Q4 performance with sections for Revenue, Operations, People, and Risk. Use bullet points under each section. Highlight the top concern in each area.

  2. Review the response. Select the Edit in Pages icon (or "Create a page" if prompted) to turn this response into a Copilot Page.

  3. In the Page view, you can:

    • Edit the content directly — add your own notes, reformat sections
    • Continue prompting Copilot to refine specific sections
    • Share the page with colleagues by selecting Share in the top-right corner

Task 5: Daily catch-up workflow (bonus, 5 min)

One of the most impactful ways to use Copilot is as part of your daily routine. Try this workflow:

  1. In Copilot Chat (Work mode), enter:

    What happened yesterday that I should know about? Summarize any important emails, meeting notes, and chat messages from the last 24 hours. Highlight anything that needs my attention or a response.

  2. Review the catch-up summary. Follow up on anything urgent:

    Were there any action items assigned to me in yesterday's meetings or email threads?

  3. Plan your day:

    Based on my calendar for today and the items from yesterday that need follow-up, suggest a prioritized task list for today.

Tip: Make this a daily habit. Open Copilot Chat first thing in the morning, run a catch-up prompt, and start your day informed. This single workflow can save 15–20 minutes every morning.

Tip: You can switch between Web and Work modes within the same conversation. Use Web for external research and switch to Work when you need to reference your organizational files.