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Byte-sized AI: Do you like to read?
I’m back for another Byte-sized AI issue, and as promised here are my three things: 😁
- Something that you can do to improve how you work
- Something techy from the news
- Something that made me laugh
📰 The one item of news:
Copilot continues to evolve
Microsoft has made another adjustment to how Copilot is delivered across Microsoft 365, and it’s one that many SMEs are starting to notice.
If you’ve been using Copilot within Word, Excel or PowerPoint without a dedicated licence, you may have recently seen a change. From 15 April 2026, Copilot Chat has been removed from these in-app experiences for users without a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot licence.
For most SMEs, this reflects a broader shift rather than a sudden loss. Microsoft has been gradually moving Copilot from an early “included” experience to a more defined, premium productivity tool. While the in-app version is no longer widely available for free, Copilot Chat (now labelled “Basic”) still exists through the standalone web app and within Teams.
What you’ll see can vary depending on organisation size. Smaller businesses may still notice the Copilot interface in apps, although with limited availability at busier times and prompts to upgrade. Larger organisations may find it removed entirely. Either way, the direction is consistent: in-app Copilot is now positioned as part of a licensed offering.
It’s worth noting that these in-app capabilities only arrived relatively recently, in September 2025. In that sense, the past few months have acted as a hands-on introduction, giving businesses a chance to explore what’s possible before deciding how – or whether – to invest.
And there is a clear upside on the paid side. Microsoft 365 Copilot has continued to evolve, with features like narrated meeting recaps, automated presentation clean-up, and improved citation handling in Word. For the right roles and use cases, these are practical, time-saving tools that can deliver measurable value.
This is why many organisations are now taking a more focused approach. Rather than rolling Copilot out universally, the emphasis is shifting towards identifying where it has the biggest impact – licensing specific users, supporting them with training, and integrating it into defined workflows. Others may find that the standalone chat experience or alternative tools are sufficient for their needs.
Ultimately, this marks an important stage in how AI is being embedded into everyday business tools. Copilot is no longer just an experiment built into Microsoft 365 – it’s becoming a structured, paid capability. Businesses that approach it with clear use cases and expectations are the ones most likely to see a strong return.
😂 The one thing that made me laugh:
Do you like to read?
If so, I have a couple of podcasts for you:
Goalhanger’s ever expanding catalogue recently added The Book Club | Podcast on Spotify which I really enjoy for a humorous but slightly scholarly review of books, alternating between classics and more serious fare.
Sara Pascoe and Cariad Loyd host Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club | Podcast on Spotify – a passionate love affair with literature in all its forms which regularly makes me laugh. It’s so joyous, just reading for the fun of it by two people who clearly love it themselves.
If you’re feeling a bit braver, and you don’t mind American accents and strong language, you could even try If Books Could Kill | Podcast on Spotify, in which the hosts go through non-fiction books with an agenda and explain in great detail why they are bad books. I think that’s a service to the world, reading business and self-help books so you don’t have to!
💡 The one thing you can do next week:
Stop asking Copilot questions. Start giving it jobs.
Most people still use Copilot like they’d use Google. “Where’s the project plan?” “Summarise this document.” That works, up to a point. But it’s leaving most of the value in the box.
So before you type, run through four quick questions.
- Who is Copilot in this conversation? Don’t just ask – assign a role. “You are my project assistant.” “You are a technical writer.” “You are a cautious reviewer of client communications.” The role changes the language, the judgement, and the tone of everything that follows.
- What do you actually need? Not “help me with the client update” but “create a 5-bullet internal update and a separate client-safe summary.” Be specific about the output, not just the subject.
- Why does it matter? Give Copilot the context a colleague would need. “Client X has been nervous about timelines.” “This goes to the board on Friday.” That’s what stops generic output and starts relevant output.
- How should it land? Format, length, tone, audience. “Under 150 words.” “Plain English, no jargon.” “Suitable for a non-technical reader.”
Put those four together and a vague ask becomes a proper brief:
“You are my project assistant. Based on the attached document and my recent emails with Client X, create a 5-bullet internal update and a separate client-safe summary. Keep it under 200 words each, plain English, no jargon.”
And if you’re rolling Copilot out across a team, this is the bit that matters most. Licences don’t create value. Habits do. If you’re not sure whether you’re on the right plan – or you’d like a hand setting something like this up – give us a shout.
If you are interested to find out how AI, automation and all things clever can help your organisation why not take a look at Future Workplace, our super special IT consultancy service that can supercharge productivity, business efficiency and so much more.
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Check out past Byte-sized AI issues:
- Byte-sized AI: Do you like to read?Find out how Copilot is evolving, and make sure that you give it a job. Plus, some great reading recommendations.
- Byte-sized AI: Watching Paint DryThe rise of Small Language Models, have you watched AI Confidential and build you own Microsoft Copilot Agent.
- Byte-sized AI: Standing-on-towelCyberScotland Week, standing-on-towel and Authenticator.
- Byte-sized AI: Bubble, bubbleIs the AI bubble about to burst? Using Copilot in Microsoft Outlook. Ethics and morals, the big difference answered.
- Byte-sized AI: Did you miss me? I bet you did!AI adoption in UK SMEs, how amazing House is and the amazing ever evolving Microsoft Copilot.
- Byte-sized AI: AI overviews and using personasAI in search is here, some of it great, some not! 😂 Plus, make your AI tools ten times better.
- Byte-sized AI: Numbers tell a storyDevelop your team for AI, Copilot for Notebook and pining for the fjords!
- Byte-sized AI: Lost in an open plan area!Find out what Nick has been up to at the Kent and Medway Business Summit and have you tried triple promoting.
- Byte-sized AI: AI actFind out how AI is being kept in check, decide if AI is funny, and have you started going loopy!
- Byte-sized AI: AI opportunities£7 million, belly laughs and AI distilled! What more can you want? Byte-sized AI from the mind of Nick Ellis!
- Byte-sized AI: Are you thinking deeper?I’m back for another Byte-sized AI issue, and as promised here are my three things. 😁
- Byte-sized AI: Its a little bit of snow!This week we have seen the government get behind AI in a big way. This was inevitable whoever was in power, I think. There are a few obvious challenges here:
- Byte-sized AI: Say hello to ClaudeFor the more technical parts of my job, I use an AI called Claude, which was created by Anthropic.
- Byte-sized AI: Granny is here to make it all better!O2 have created an AI that sounds like your gran! The obvious question is “why?”. Firstly, it doesn’t sound like your gran specifically, that would be weird; it’s a generic gran called Daisy, complete with confusion about technology and a tendency to talk about her cat too much. Still doesn’t answer why though.
- Byte-sized AI: A llama with AI and an admission!Meta are doing something very interesting. They have a set of AI models collectively called “Llama” which anyone can download and use in their products for free.
- Byte-sized AI: Something special is happening in the UK!The UK is doing something a bit special. The global average for businesses adopting AI to some extent is around 13%.
- Byte-sized AI: Up, up and… back down! 😕Every so often in the world of tech something happens that is so astonishing, so utterly gob-smacking that we should all just stop and applaud.
- Byte-sized AI: An extra brain in the room!I’m back for another Byte-sized AI issue, and as promised here are my three things! 😁
- Byte-sized AI: The machines have taken over SainsburysWelcome to the very first issue of my new technology newsletter Byte-sized AI. Each issue I will give you three things:Something techy from the news Something that made me laugh Something that you can do to improve how you work
- Byte-sized AI: Be the first to hear from NickWant to get the latest news about technology and AI, then there is only one person you need to hear from and that’s me!!
Nick Ellis
AI and Innovation Lead
Nick Ellis is the AI and Innovation Lead at Select Technology. He is the driving force behind our Future Workplace service, which enables SMEs across all industries to use AI and automation to enhance business operations
Throughout his career he has been instrumental in helping organisations across London and the South East, to unlock the power of AI and automation to build smarter workflows that remove manual administration and connect systems. He has helped organisations replace inefficient tools with simplified processes, freeing up teams to focus on what they do best and enabling business growth without increasing costs.
With over 30 years’ experience in business technology, spanning FTSE 500 organisations and SMEs, Nick specialises in Microsoft 365, cloud software, AI solutions, and business intelligence.