Effective August 7, 2025, Microsoft has started rolling out GPT-5, the latest generative AI model from OpenAI, in Microsoft Copilot Chat. This update introduces new capabilities for users with and without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, including enhanced reasoning, faster responses, and improved access to work-related data.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat?
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is an AI-powered assistant integrated into Microsoft 365. It helps users complete tasks, answer questions, and analyze data using large language models (LLMs).
Both “Microsoft 365 Copilot” and “Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat” (formerly “Microsoft Bing Chat Enterprise”, then “Microsoft Copilot”) licenses provide access to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, including GPT-5:
What is GPT-5?
GPT‑5 is OpenAI’s best AI system to-date. With the introduction of GPT-5 (Generative Pre-trained Transformer 5), Copilot Chat now offers more intelligent and context-aware responses at no additional cost.
Copilot Chat With GPT-5
- Smart orchestration: With GPT-5, Copilot recognizes whether a query is straightforward or more involved, and chooses the best model (GPT-5 Chat or GPT-5 Reasoning) to respond to your needs.
- More complete answers: Using GPT-5, Copilot Chat can generate text more fluently and understand context better. This makes the standard model smarter and more effective at providing accurate answers on the first try.
- Efficient problem-solving: Copilot Chat can now tackle even more complicated problems, using its deep reasoning capabilities to perform multi-step reasoning, difficult calculations, or logic-based tasks.
Comparing GPT-5 and Microsoft 365 Copilot Researcher
The following table compares GPT-5 in Copilot Chat to Microsoft 365 Copilot Researcher, a Microsoft-build Copilot agent, which is based on OpenAI o3.
| GPT-5 Chat | GPT-5 Reasoning | Researcher | |
| Type of task | Quick and straightforward: Simple Q&A, summaries, or creative brainstorming | Logical analysis and problem-solving: Complex questions that benefit from deliberate thought, reasoning through scenarios | Thorough investigations or reports: Comprehensive tasks requiring gathering and synthesizing information from lots of sources |
| Depth of reasoning | Direct and rapid answers | Multi-step logical reasoning for “think this through”-type prompts | Recursive, “exhaustive” reasoning for deep inferences and synthesis |
| Output format | Brief, concise responses | Structured, well-organized responses | Comprehensive, detailed reports |
| Ideal use case | Everyday queries | Analytical and structured reasoning | In-depth research, cross-source synthesis, deep dives |
| Example use cases | What does this acronym mean?
Draft a 2-sentence reply thanking the team Summarize this document |
Plan a 5-step project timeline from kickoff to launch
List the decisions made yesterday on Project X and identify open questions Let’s walk through this problem together |
Compile a competitive analysis on…
Summarize the new research on x and compare it to our internal strategy Create a detailed brief before a large meeting |
| Sample prompts | “Write a short announcement for [product x].’ | “Look back at last week’s activity on [product x], and write a detailed newsletter to share with all stakeholders identifying current status, key decisions, and open items.” | “Build a full go-to-market strategy for [product x]. Include competitive positioning, internal readiness, lessons learned from past launches, and external trends.” |
Availability
- Microsoft 365 Copilot-licensed Users: Users with Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses have immediate access to GPT-5. These users will see a new “Try GPT-5” button in Copilot Chat. Once activated, Copilot will use GPT-5 for that session and get priority access to GPT-5, which provides higher and predicable access, including during peak periods. This priority capacity includes access to:
- Image generation
- File upload
- GPT-5
- Researcher and Analyst
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat Users: GPT-5 is now beginning to roll out for users without Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses. Full availability is expected by September 15, 2025. These users will receive standard access, which is subject to available capacity, which may vary throughout the day. This standard capacity includes access to:
- Image generation
- File upload
- GPT-5
- Copilot Studio: GPT-5 is now available in Copilot Studio. Users can select GPT-5 as the primary model for their custom agents and use it in prompts. There are two ways to use GPT-5 in Copilot Studio: as the agent model or in custom prompt tools:
- Azure AI Foundry: All GPT-5 variations are now available, including:
- GPT-5: The most advanced version, ideal for complex tasks like analytics and code generation. It can handle very large amounts of information at once (up to 272,000 tokens).
- GPT-5 Mini: Designed for real-time use in apps and support agents. It’s fast and smart, helping solve customer problems quickly.
- GPT-5 Nano: Focuses on speed. Great for quick questions and answers where fast response is more important than deep analysis.
- GPT-5 Chat: Built for natural conversations that can include text, images, and more. It remembers context across multiple messages and supports up to 128,000 tokens.
How to Access GPT-5 in Copilot Chat
Access GPT-5 by clicking on “Try GPT-5”: https://m365.cloud.microsoft/chat/.
Tip: If you don’t see the button, that is because either:
- Your window is not wide enough. Enlarge the width to >1300 px. OR
- You are not licensed with Microsoft 365 Copilot. In that case, it can take another few weeks, before the button appears in your Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat experience.
Interested in Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses?
Tip: You can still save 15% on Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses in CSP with SCHNEIDER IT MANAGEMENT: https://www.schneider.im/microsoft-copilot-for-microsoft-365-promotion-save-15/.
More information
Microsoft 365 Copilot Announcements: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/08/07/available-today-gpt-5-in-microsoft-365-copilot/
Microsoft Azure AI Foundry Announcements: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/gpt-5-in-azure-ai-foundry-the-future-of-ai-apps-and-agents-starts-here/.
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