Microsoft Copilot
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is an AI-powered assistant that supports research, text editing, translation, summarization, as well as the creation of content and ideas. At UZH, only the Copilot Chat (Basic) and Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) versions are approved for use.
Available Versions
| Version | Availability | Cost | Permitted Data Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copilot Chat (Basic) | All UZH members | Free of charge | Public and internal data |
| M365 Copilot (Premium) | UZH employees only | CHF 18.00/month | Public, internal, and confidential data |
Copilot Chat (Basic) provides AI capabilities without full integration into Microsoft 365 applications. Individual documents can be uploaded and processed, but it does not have access to OneDrive, Teams, or SharePoint data.
M365 Copilot (Premium) is fully integrated into Microsoft 365 (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams) and can access personal work files and organizational data in accordance with existing permissions.
Permitted Use
Use is permitted exclusively with the official UZH Microsoft 365 account.
Copilot must be accessed through the protected UZH environment
https://m365.cloud.microsoft/chat/
Microsoft's Enterprise Data Protection applies within this environment and data is not used to train AI models.
Note: The private version at copilot.microsoft.com is not permitted at UZH.
Handling of Data
According to the UZH Information Classification Policy (German), Copilot is approved for the following data categories:
- Copilot Chat (Basic): permitted for data classified as public and internal
- M365 Copilot (Premium): additionally permitted for confidential data, provided UZH requirements are met
- Secret data: must not be processed in any Copilot version
Responsible and Secure Use
General principles apply when using Copilot at UZH:
Guidelines for the Use of AI Systems (AI Guidelines)
Important: Generated content must always be reviewed critically. AI-generated results may contain errors (hallucinations). Data protection, copyright law, contract law, and the principles of good scientific practice must be observed.
Detailed information on the responsible and secure use of Copilot can be found in the:Copilot Information Sheet (German)
Licensing
M365 Copilot (Premium) is subject to a fee and can be ordered through the UZH Software Portal, provided the respective organizational unit has been enabled for licensing.
Support and Training
The UZH Central IT Services provides support: Email:
support@zi.uzh.ch
In addition, Central IT Services regularly offers Copilot training courses.
Current Course Programme
General
Links (Copilot)
Information Security Guidelines
Data protection regulations of the University of Zurich (German)
Integrity Ordinance of the University of Zurich
Popular AI Tools: What about data protection? (Vischer AG law firm)
Links (Copilot)
Factsheet Microsoft Copilot (German)
Comparison of Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot
Copilot Chat (free)
UZH Softwareportal
Introduction to using Copilot (Microsoft)