Everywhere you look right now, the world is buzzing about AI. From corner shop owners to CEOs of multimillion-pound companies, everyone’s wondering the same thing - how is this actually going to help me?

Spoiler alert - it can. Especially if you're in the Microsoft 365 world.

If you're anything like the business owners I speak to daily, you’ve probably heard the hype about Copilot but haven't quite figured out whether it's smoke and mirrors or the real deal. Today, I’m here to tell you: it's very much real - and if you're clever about it, it could save you an hour every single day.

What Is Microsoft 365 Copilot - and Why Should You Care?

Before we dive in, let me clear something up. Microsoft has two Copilot offerings:

• Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat - free and handy, but limited.

• Microsoft 365 Copilot - the paid powerhouse, costing around $30 per user per month (or just under £1 a day).

The key difference? With the paid version, you’re not just chatting to a generic AI - you’re unlocking a personal assistant that's deeply integrated into your data. Think Outlook emails, Teams messages, OneDrive files - all accessible and understood by Copilot. It’s like giving your productivity a caffeine shot with every click.

"But I Already Pay £8-10 Per User For Business Premium!"

I hear this all the time - and honestly, fair point. You're already paying for the full suite: Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, the works. So why fork out even more?

Because this isn’t just a fancy add-on. Copilot isn’t there to impress you with clever tricks. It’s designed to save you time - real time - and if it gives you back even one hour a day, you’re winning.

Let’s break it down - if your time is worth £30 an hour (and let’s be honest, it probably is), and Copilot saves you one hour a day, that’s a massive return on investment.

Copilot in Action - Your New Digital Assistant

So how does it work in practice? Let's take a look inside Microsoft Outlook, where Copilot becomes your own PA.

1. Drafting Emails (Without the Dread)

Ever stared at a blank screen wondering how to word that email to a client? With Copilot, you just type a simple prompt like:

"Write a three to five paragraph email for business owners about the benefits of Microsoft 365 in business. Make the tone friendly."

And bang - Copilot does the heavy lifting. You can tweak the tone, make it longer or shorter, or regenerate it entirely. What used to take ten minutes now takes two - and with far less stress.

2. Replying to Email Chains Like a Pro

In a long back-and-forth with colleagues or clients? Copilot reads the entire thread and offers suggested replies. No more scrolling through dozens of messages to find your bearings. Just pick a smart response or customise it in seconds.

3. Finding the Perfect Time to Meet

Ask Copilot something like “Find a good time this week to meet with Simon”, and it’ll check both your calendars and suggest a time - no juggling Outlook windows or manual diary digging required.

4. Summarising Long Emails Instantly

Ever been copied into a monster email thread that’s 90% irrelevant? Just hit “Summarise with Copilot”, and it’ll distil the entire thing down to a few key points. You get the gist, without losing your will to live.

5. Automating Small But Mighty Tasks

Need to set your out-of-office? Ask Copilot and it’ll prep the message and scheduling box for you - again, saving you clicks and context switching. These small wins add up fast.

The Verdict - Is It Worth It?

Here’s the thing. If you view Copilot as just another subscription, then sure - it might feel like a tough sell. But if you look at it as a time-saving investment, the value becomes clear.

Time is the one thing we can’t make more of. So if something helps you claw back even 30 minutes a day - let alone an hour - that’s not just helpful. That’s transformative.

Final Thoughts

Copilot isn’t magic. But when it’s set up right and used wisely, it sure feels like it. For under £1 a day, you're essentially hiring a digital assistant who works faster than any human and never takes a tea break.

Still unsure? I’ve created a whole video series exploring Copilot and AI in Microsoft 365 - from Chat to Agents to this personal assistant. Check them out on my YouTube channel and decide for yourself.

Until then - less typing, more doing.