01Summarize a long email threadVerified
Select Summary by Copilot at the top of a thread to get the key points. The summary may include numbered citations that jump to each email. In new Outlook you can also summarize PDF, Word, or PowerPoint attachments.
- Open the conversation
- Select Summary by Copilot (or Summarize) at the top of the thread
- Use the numbered citations to open the source emails
- For attachments, select Summarize a file (new Outlook / web)
(After the summary, in Copilot chat) List the open questions, answered points, next actions and owners in this thread as bullets.
If an inquiry thread contains patient-identifiable data, handle it only as company policy allows. If you see a possible adverse event, follow your internal safety procedure; a summary does not replace it. Output can be wrong. Check it against the original email, notes, or transcript before use.
Supporting passage from the source
Select Summary by Copilot (or it might say Summarize) at the top of the email thread. Copilot will scan the thread to look for key points and create a summary for you.
02Draft an email with CopilotVerified
Type a prompt in Draft with Copilot and Copilot writes a draft. Change tone or length with Adjust, select Keep it, then edit and send.
- Home > New mail
- Select the Copilot icon, then Draft with Copilot (Draft in new Outlook)
- Type a prompt and select Generate
- Use Adjust for tone/length or Regenerate
- Select Keep it, edit, then Send
Write a polite reply to an external speaker about scheduling a 30-minute Teams prep call. Offer Oct 3 at 2 pm or Oct 7 at 10 am. Under 120 words.
New Outlook and web do not support plain-text drafts (switch to HTML). The draft's sensitivity label can change if the generated output carries a higher label. Have a person check anything governed by company rules, such as speaker requests or fees. Output can be wrong. Check it against the original email, notes, or transcript before use.
Supporting passage from the source
When you're satisfied with the result, select Keep it. Note that the sensitivity level of the draft may change if the sensitivity assigned to the generated output is higher than the draft's level.
03Check a draft with Coaching by CopilotVerified
Run your own draft through Coaching by Copilot to get suggestions on tone, clarity, and reader sentiment.
- Write your message
- Select the Copilot icon > Coaching by Copilot
- Apply suggestions one by one or select Apply all suggestions
- Review and send
(Mainly a button.) Draft: asking the review committee office to clarify why a material was returned. Check that facts and requests are clear and the tone is not harsh.
Coaching improves wording; it does not check factual accuracy or policy compliance. Apply all suggestions regenerates the text, so recheck numbers and names. Output can be wrong. Check it against the original email, notes, or transcript before use.
Supporting passage from the source
Copilot will review your email and offer suggestions on improving the tone, clarity, and reader sentiment.
04Use Prioritize my inboxVerified
Copilot tags incoming mail as high, normal, or low priority and shows a short summary in the list. You can add your own instructions to tune it.
- Windows: arrow next to the Copilot button > Prioritize (Mac: What's New tab; mobile: Settings > Copilot > Set up Prioritize by Copilot)
- Enter at least one high-priority instruction
- Tune criteria in Settings > Copilot > Prioritize
- Filter or sort the message list by priority
(Instruction examples) It's from the promotional review committee office / It mentions a review deadline / It's forwarded from Medical Information
Only mail received after you turn it on is prioritized. Mail in other folders, meeting mail, and encrypted mail are not evaluated. Do not skip low-priority mail on the label alone; it can still hold deadlines.
Supporting passage from the source
Copilot reviews your emails as they arrive in your inbox and assigns a priority (high, low, normal) to them based on a list of factors—like people on the thread, their job titles, email content and more.
05Ask Copilot Chat in Outlook about your mail and calendarVerified
Open chat from the Copilot button to ask about your inbox, calendar, and meetings, or have it flag mail or set auto-replies. With an add-on license it can also use chats and enterprise data.
- Sign in with your work or school account
- Select the Copilot button at the top of Outlook
- Type your question or request
- Open cited items to verify
Summarize last week's emails about the [product] material review. List emails with unanswered questions first.
Scope depends on license (without the add-on: inbox, calendar, meetings, and other limited data). Assume some important mail may be missed; manage deadlines from the original emails. Output can be wrong. Check it against the original email, notes, or transcript before use.
Supporting passage from the source
What you can do with Copilot Chat in Outlook depends on whether or not your admin assigned a Microsoft Copilot add-on license to your work or school account.
06Save your writing style as draft instructionsVerified
Save your writing preferences in Copilot settings so every draft follows them, instead of asking for the same edits each time.
- In new Outlook, open the dropdown next to the Copilot icon
- Select Settings > Draft Instructions
- Turn on “Use custom instructions when drafting email”
- Type your instructions and Save
(Instruction example) Put the conclusion in the first line. Number any requests. For external physicians, use formal Japanese and sign with surname and department.
Instructions shape style only; they do not make content accurate. Wording governed by regulatory or company rules still goes through your review process.
Supporting passage from the source
You'll need a Microsoft Copilot (work) license or a Microsoft Copilot Pro (home) license to use this feature.
07Create a meeting from an email threadVerified
Schedule with Copilot reads the thread and creates an invite with a title and agenda. Thread participants become attendees and the thread is attached.
- Open the thread in new Outlook
- Select Schedule with Copilot in the toolbar (or More options > Other reply actions > Schedule with Copilot)
- Select Insert / Keep it
- Check attendees, time, and agenda, then Send
(Mainly a button.) Create an invite from the material-revision thread, then add 'status of previous comments' to the agenda.
Everyone on the thread becomes an attendee and the whole thread is attached; check for external or unneeded recipients and confidential content before sending. Content classified as confidential is not used for the agenda.
Supporting passage from the source
When you use the Schedule with Copilot option, Copilot analyzes the email and creates a meeting invitation for you, filling in a meeting title and agenda, and adding the email thread as an attachment.
08Draft a meeting agenda with CopilotVerified
In a new meeting, add a title and attendees, then open Copilot in the description to draft an agenda. Adjust length or tone as needed.
- Create a meeting with title and attendees
- In the description, select Copilot (or Alt+i)
- Select Auto draft an agenda or type goals and talking points
- Keep it, Discard, or Adjust the tone or length
Draft an agenda for promotional review committee meeting #12: previous comments (10 min), three new materials (15 min each), next date (5 min). Add an owner column.
Confirm time slots and items against committee rules. Files referenced with / may surface in the agenda; make sure all attendees may see them.
Supporting passage from the source
Copilot can help you create meetings and meeting agendas quickly, saving you time and keeping your meetings on track.
09Schedule a meeting through Copilot chatVerified
Describe the meeting in Copilot chat and it checks all attendees' calendars and suggests a time that works.
- Select the Copilot button to the right of the ribbon
- Type the meeting details (who, length, topic)
- Review the suggested times and create the invite
Schedule a 30-minute Teams meeting next week with Yamada and Sato from Medical Affairs to review the congress slides.
Suggestions rely on calendar free/busy; private items or travel time may not be reflected. Check recipients and time before sending.
Supporting passage from the source
Copilot in Outlook will check the calendars of all the attendees and recommend a mutually convenient time to meet.