AI @ SHSU - GPT-5 in Microsoft Copilot
GPT-5 in Microsoft Copilot: Smarter, Faster, More Helpful
Big news: GPT 5—the newest, most capable OpenAI model—is now available in Microsoft Copilot experiences.
What Is GPT-5 and Why Does It Matter?
GPT-5 is the latest generation of OpenAI’s large language model and brings faster answers for quick tasks and deeper reasoning for complex work. Microsoft 365 Copilot applies GPT 5 to your day to day tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) with enterprise data protection and admin controls—a key distinction for work that involves university information.
Using GPT-5 in Copilot offers SHSU users a more context-aware, secure, and integrated experience compared to ChatGPT.
For users that have purchased a license for Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot works within your documents, emails, spreadsheets, and meetings—helping you get things done faster and smarter. Unlike ChatGPT, which operates as a standalone chatbot.
ChatGPT vs. Microsoft Copilot Chat vs. Microsoft 365 Copilot (all with GPT 5)
💡Tip: Microsoft 365Copilot Chat provides enterprise data protection, while Microsoft 365 Copilot adds deep, in app experiences across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
| Feature | ChatGPT (GPT-5) | Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat (GPT-5) | Microsoft 365 Copilot (GPT-5) |
| Where you use it | https://chatgpt.com/ and ChatGPT Apps. | https://copilot.microsoft.com | Inside Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) plus Copilot Chat. |
| Context Awareness | Limited to chat history | Chat grounded in the web with enterprise data protection | Full work context. Access to your calendar, emails, chats, files—subject to your permissions |
| Security | Public cloud. Governed by OpenAI’s policies; do not input sensitive university data unless approved. | Enterprise data protection | Inherits Microsoft 365 security, compliance, and privacy in our tenant. |
| In app productivity | N/A | Chat experience only. | Rich, in app copilots: draft in Word, analyze in Excel, design in PowerPoint, summarize in Teams/Outlook. |
| Best for | General brainstorming and learning with non sensitive content. | Quick answers with enterprise protection—good for web grounded tasks at work | End to end work across your documents, meetings, and communications. |
| Costs | Free/$$$ | Free | $330/year |
Use cases tailored for faculty
- Email productivity in Outlook: Summarize long student email threads, draft replies in the right tone, and suggest follow ups—directly from Outlook with Copilot.
- Course communications: Draft clear syllabus updates, assignment announcements, and rubric explanations; adjust for friendly or formal tone.
- Meeting recaps: Turn department or committee meetings into concise summaries with action items.
- Research and prep: Ask Copilot to “get me up to speed” on project materials or to synthesize literature notes you already store in Microsoft 365.
Example prompts you can try
- “Get me up to speed on the latest plans related to [project/course] and suggest next steps.”
- “Draft an announcement to students about a schedule change; keep it concise and supportive.”
Use cases tailored for staff
- Campus communications: Draft event invitations, updates, and newsletters with consistent formatting and tone.
- Inbox triage: Summarize unread messages and prioritize responses for your team.
- Meeting follow ups: Produce recap emails with decisions and action items right after a meeting.
- Briefings & analyses: For complex requests, GPT 5’s deeper reasoning can plan, gather context from your work files, and deliver thoughtful recommendations.
Example prompts you can try
- “Summarize yesterday’s meeting and draft a follow up with assigned tasks.”
- “Review the attached project plan and give five substantive improvements with rationale.”
Learn More
Here are some relevant and freely available resources to explore GPT-5 and Copilot:
- A video playlist showing how Copilot works in Office apps.
- Technical insights into GPT-5’s capabilities.
- A beginner-friendly course on how generative AI works.
Interested in Microsoft 365 Copilot?
If you are interested in obtaining a license for Microsoft 365 Copilot, submit a request through our ticketing system to begin the process. There is a $330/year per individual cost to your department. Budget approvals are required to process your request.