TL;DR – What You Need to Know in 30 Seconds

• Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat introduces free AI-powered chat with GPT-4 and pay-as-you-go AI agents for automating business tasks.
• Key features: Market research, document summarisation, real-time collaboration, AI-generated images, and file uploads.
• Pay-as-you-go AI agents automate repetitive tasks, billed at $0.01 per message or $200 for 25,000 messages/month.
• Enterprise-grade security & IT controls ensure data protection, agent governance, and compliance with company policies.
• Difference from Microsoft 365 Copilot: Copilot Chat offers a free entry point, while Microsoft 365 Copilot provides deep integration and personalised AI assistance for $30 per user/month.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat: Free AI Chat with Flexible AI Agents

Microsoft has expanded its AI-powered productivity offerings with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, an enhanced chat solution powered by GPT-4. Unlike the premium Microsoft 365 Copilot, which requires a monthly subscription, Copilot Chat offers a free chat experience with optional pay-as-you-go AI agents. This model makes AI-powered automation more accessible to businesses while maintaining enterprise-grade security and IT control.

What’s New in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat?

Copilot Chat provides a secure, AI-powered assistant that can handle everything from market research and strategy development to content creation and file analysis. Key features include:

✅ AI-Powered Chat (Free)

• Secure chat powered by GPT-4 for research, strategy documents, and meeting preparation.
• File uploads allow users to summarise reports, analyse Excel spreadsheets, and improve presentations.
• Copilot Pages enables real-time collaboration between humans and AI.
• AI-generated images for campaigns, product launches, and social media posts.

✅ Pay-As-You-Go AI Agents

• Task automation: Agents can be created via natural language prompts to handle repetitive tasks.
• Flexible pricing: $0.01 per message or $200 for 25,000 messages/month via Microsoft Azure.
• Enterprise IT controls: IT admins manage agent deployment and permissions via Microsoft Copilot Studio.

✅ IT & Data Protection Features

• Enterprise Data Protection (EDP): Ensures uploaded content isn’t used to train AI models.
• Copilot Control System: Governs agent access, usage, and security policies.
• Access control & monitoring: IT teams can track agent interactions and adjust permissions.

Copilot Chat vs. Microsoft 365 Copilot: What’s the Difference?

While both solutions leverage AI, Copilot Chat offers an on-demand AI assistant, whereas Microsoft 365 Copilot provides a deeply integrated AI experience. Here’s how they compare:

How Businesses Can Benefit from Copilot Chat

💡 Lower Cost, Higher Flexibility:
Companies can use free AI chat and only pay for AI agents when needed—ideal for businesses that don’t require a full Microsoft 365 Copilot subscription.

💡 Task Automation for Teams:
Teams can automate manual, repetitive workflows with AI agents, optimising efficiency without major IT infrastructure changes.

💡 Enterprise-Grade Security & Control:
IT admins can manage AI agent permissions, ensuring compliance and governance over data access and automation tools.

How to Get Started with Copilot Chat

1️⃣ Enable Free AI Chat: Available by default for Microsoft 365 commercial customers via Microsoft365.com/copilot.
2️⃣ Use AI Agents (Optional):

• Free agents (based on public data and uploaded files) are enabled via Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
• Paid agents require a Copilot Studio subscription via the Power Platform Admin Center (PPAC).
  3️⃣ Choose Your Pricing Model:
• Pay-as-you-go: $0.01 per message (billed via Azure).
• Capacity packs: $200 for 25,000 messages/month.
  4️⃣ Manage and Monitor Agents: IT admins can monitor usage, trends, and performance through Microsoft Copilot Studio.

Final Thoughts: A More Flexible AI Assistant for Businesses

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat represents a shift towards AI accessibility and flexibility, offering both free AI-powered chat and on-demand automation. While Microsoft 365 Copilot remains the go-to solution for businesses deeply embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem, Copilot Chat provides a cost-effective alternative for those seeking AI-powered efficiency without a full subscription commitment.

For businesses looking to streamline workflows, automate tasks, and leverage AI without long-term contracts, Copilot Chat’s pay-as-you-go agents offer a compelling alternative to traditional AI subscriptions.

Let’s Talk AI!

How are you preparing for the AI-driven future? What questions are you training yourself to ask? Drop your thoughts in the comments, share this with your network, and subscribe for more deep dives into AI’s impact on work, life, and everything in between.

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• Try Microsoft Copilot Chat now by tapping here.

TL;DR:

• ByteDance is planning to invest over $12 billion in AI infrastructure in 2025, with $5.5 billion allocated for AI chips in China and $6.8 billion dedicated to enhancing model training capabilities internationally.
• This move is aimed at strengthening ByteDance’s AI prowess to stay competitive against Chinese tech giants like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent.
• The investment includes a significant focus on acquiring Nvidia chips to bolster global AI initiatives.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the tech world, ByteDance—the mastermind behind TikTok—is making headlines again. This time, they’re gearing up for a colossal $12 billion investment in AI infrastructure in 2025, according to the Financial Times. Let’s break down what this means and why it’s a big deal.

The Investment Breakdown

ByteDance’s ambitious plan involves:

1. $5.5 billion on AI chips in China: This substantial investment is set to double their spending from the previous year, highlighting a strong commitment to enhancing domestic AI capabilities.
2. $6.8 billion to boost global model training capabilities: A significant portion of this budget is earmarked for acquiring advanced Nvidia chips, underscoring ByteDance’s strategy to leverage top-tier technology for AI model training.

Why This Matters

1. Elevating AI Capabilities: With this hefty investment, ByteDance aims to elevate its AI infrastructure, ensuring that platforms like TikTok continue to offer cutting-edge features and personalised user experiences.
2. Staying Ahead in the AI Race: In the fiercely competitive tech landscape, this move positions ByteDance to keep pace with, or even outpace, rivals such as Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, all of whom are making significant strides in AI development.
3. Strategic Partnerships: By investing heavily in Nvidia chips, ByteDance is aligning itself with a leader in AI hardware, which could lead to more advanced and efficient AI models powering its platforms.

The Bigger Picture

This investment isn’t just about staying competitive; it’s about setting the stage for the future. As AI continues to evolve, companies that invest in robust infrastructure and cutting-edge technology will be better positioned to lead the market. ByteDance’s substantial commitment to AI underscores its vision to be at the forefront of this technological revolution.

Final Thoughts

ByteDance’s planned $12 billion investment in AI infrastructure is a bold move that signals its intent to lead in the AI-driven future. By focusing on both domestic and international advancements and partnering with industry leaders like Nvidia, ByteDance is not just keeping up with the competition—it’s setting the pace.

What are your thoughts on ByteDance’s massive AI investment? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

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TL;DR:

• Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney are calling out AI for ripping off artists’ work—without paying a dime.
• They’re backing changes to the Data (Use and Access) Bill to protect copyrights in the age of generative AI.
• This is a global wake-up call: AI is amazing, but can creators afford to lose control of their own art?

What’s the Fuss About?

If you’ve been paying attention to the creative world lately, you’ve probably heard a lot about AI “stealing” from artists. Sounds dramatic, right? Well, it’s not just hype. Big names like Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney are making some noise about how AI is being trained on artists’ works—without permission or payment.

Here’s the deal. AI systems, like the ones used to create fake Drake songs or uncanny art, need heaps of data to learn. That data? Often, it’s pulled from publicly available sources, which means your favourite song, artwork, or book might have been used to teach an AI how to mimic its style. And guess what? Nobody’s cutting cheques for the original creators.

The Legal Battleground: The Data (Use and Access) Bill

This is where the Data (Use and Access) Bill comes in. Right now, it’s under review in the UK, and some suggested amendments could be a game-changer. If approved, they’d make sure creators have a say (and get paid) when their work is used to train AI. Think of it as copyright protections 2.0—designed for the AI era.

Sir Elton and Sir Paul argue this is essential. Without such protections, creators might lose control of their own work, leaving the door open for corporations to profit off their creativity without a second thought. And let’s face it: that’s not a future anyone wants.

McCartney’s concerns are shared by a coalition of publishers, artists’ groups, and media organisations known as the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, which opposes weakening copyright protections.

Why Creators Are Worried

The backlash isn’t just about royalties (although, let’s be honest, that’s a big part of it). It’s also about authenticity. Imagine an AI-generated song using Sir Paul’s voice—but without his input or consent. Is it still “his” music? And if the lines between real and fake keep blurring, what happens to trust in the creative industry?

The tension is real:

• Creators say AI is exploiting their work without permission.
• AI advocates argue it’s all “fair use” and promotes innovation.
• Fans? They’re caught in the middle, wondering if the next viral song is even legit.

What’s Next for AI and Copyright?

The future of copyright and AI is still being written (pun intended). If the amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill pass, it could set a global precedent for how we protect creativity in the AI age. But legislation is only part of the solution.

Here’s what needs to happen:

1. Transparency: Companies need to be upfront about where their training data comes from.
2. Fair Compensation: If you’re using someone’s work, pay them for it. Simple.
3. Collaboration: Artists, lawmakers, and tech firms must find a balance that works for everyone.

Platforms like OpenAI are starting to take small steps, allowing rights holders to opt out of having their work used for training (source: OpenAI Blog, https://openai.com/blog). But let’s not kid ourselves—there’s a long way to go.

• And you can watch the interview with Paul McCartney here.
• You can read more about the proposed legislation and its potential impact on APNews.

The Big Question

AI is undeniably powerful, but it doesn’t replace human creativity. It’s like giving a robot a paintbrush—it can make something impressive, but does it have soul?

What do you think? Should AI have free reign to use whatever it wants, or is it time for tighter rules to protect creators?

Join the conversation, subscribe to our newsletter, and become part of our community of AI enthusiasts. Let’s shape the future of AI—together.

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