Microsoft began rolling out GPT-5 in Copilot in early August. OpenAI’s GPT-5 is the newest generative AI model from OpenAI, that now operates within Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. GPT-5 is OpenAI’s most advanced system to date. This update brings enhanced capabilities for users regardless of their Microsoft 365 Copilot license, including improved reasoning, faster responses and better 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 supports users in completing tasks, answering questions, and analyzing data using large language models (LLMs). Both the full license that you can purchase to integrate “Microsoft 365 Copilot” and the “Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat” license that the university provides to all Buckeyes include access to GPT-5.
What is GPT-5?
GPT‑5 is OpenAI’s most advanced AI system to date. With this update, Copilot Chat delivers more intelligent, context-aware responses at no additional cost. Enhancements include:
- Smart orchestration: GPT-5 can determine whether a query is simple or complex and select the best model (GPT-5 Chat or GPT-5 Reasoning) to respond.
- More complete answers: GPT-5 improves fluency and contextual understanding, helping Copilot Chat deliver accurate responses on the first try.
- Efficient problem-solving: With deeper reasoning capabilities, GPT-5 can handle multi-step logic, complex calculations, and structured analysis.
Available Now
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat users (Free License) will have full availability to GPT-5. You will see the “Try GPT-5” button in the top right corner. Access includes:
- Basic access to GPT-5 via Copilot Chat and desktop app
- Uses GPT-5’s standard model for general queries
- Limited to non-enterprise context (no access to work data like emails, meetings, or documents)
- A light experience of Copilot Studio is available within the Microsoft 365 Copilot app for you to build declarative agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot quickly and easily.
- For more information go to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Microsoft 365 Copilot users with a full-version license have immediate access to GPT-5. Features include:
- Full GPT-5 access, including Smart Mode that dynamically switches between fast and deep reasoning models
- Integrated with Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and more
- Can reason and respond based on enterprise data (emails, chats, meetings, documents)
- Access to Researcher agent for deep synthesis across multiple sources
- Priority performance and predictable quality
- Supports complex workflows, post-mortem analysis, and strategic planning
- A light experience of Copilot Studio is available within the Microsoft 365 Copilot app for you to build declarative agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot quickly and easily.
- For more information go to Microsoft 365 Copilot
If you don’t have a license for the full version of Microsoft 365 Copilot, GPT-5 access may take a few more weeks to appear. If you’d like to learn more about GPT-5’s capabilities, visit Microsoft’s site.