When Microsoft Copilot was first announced in September 2023, I, like many other observers of the tech world, was excited to see what it could do.
By offering an AI-powered way to get exactly the information or help you need when you need it, launched with the press of a dedicated Copilot button (the first major change to the Windows keyboard layout in years), the tool potentially offered a breakthrough for my often manic and chaotic workday.
So when I got the chance to review the HP Envy x360 14-fc009na, one of the company's first business laptops with Copilot enabled, I jumped at the chance: How much has Copilot changed my work life?
Come on, come on, co-pilot?
In short: not much.
In fact, it was a minor annoyance at first: the new dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard layout fell victim to more than one accidental press as I got used to my new device.
When I remembered I was there, I was trying to use Copilot as best I could, mostly to track down specific work documents or find information about an event we had held last year, in preparation for this year's event.
This was fine, but there were often issues finding information or documents within Google Drive (the main system we use here at Future PLC) and the need to log in with a Microsoft 365 account to get more detailed answers was a bit of a stumbling block.
However, as I began to rely on it more and more, I found Copilot to be excellent at quickly summarizing news alerts (helpful when brainstorming headlines for a story), as well as identifying the best sources to cite when faced with a wide variety of options, saving me time and stress when putting together our daily news list.
Of course, this is based solely on my daily usage and is by no means representative of everyone using Microsoft Copilot.
The tool was always designed for those who have to manage large amounts of information, such as working documents across multiple projects and deadlines, or those who need a little more polish or refinement in their work emails.
Obviously I had no intention of using AI to improve the articles I write (as this goes against several relevant personal and corporate policies), but I can definitely see the opportunity for those who might need a little inspiration.
Microsoft has already announced its next step forward, with enhanced “Copilot+ PC” launching in late 2024, but as my colleague Matt Hanson reported in his hands-on experience, even those advanced devices raise some concerns about how much they will offer everyday users.
In short, the Copilot key on my HP Envy x360 14-fc009na has largely been neglected, but it could definitely be a vital tool for your workspace, so I highly recommend you try it out ASAP.
