AI Copilot
Also called Copilot
An AI assistant built into the software you already use, which suggests and drafts while you stay in control of each decision.
What is an AI copilot?
An AI copilot is an assistant that works alongside you inside an app, such as a code editor, an email client, a spreadsheet or a design tool. It suggests the next line of code, drafts a reply, summarises a document or answers questions about what's on screen. You review its suggestions and decide what to keep.
The word is a general term: GitHub Copilot and Microsoft Copilot are product names, but many other tools describe their built-in assistant the same way.
How does it work?
A copilot sends what you're working on (the open file, the email thread, the selected cells) together with your request to a large language model, and shows the result in place. Most copilots act only when you ask, or offer suggestions you can accept with a keystroke.
What is it commonly confused with?
- An AI agent. A copilot assists with a step while you drive. An agent takes a goal and works through several steps on its own. Many copilots now include an agent mode, so a single product can be both.
- Autocomplete. Basic autocomplete predicts the next word from patterns. A copilot understands the wider context and can draft whole sections.
Why does it matter?
Copilots are the most common way people use AI at work, because they fit into existing tools and keep a person in charge (human in the loop). When comparing them, check what data they send to the provider, whether that data is used for training, and how well they understand your files beyond the one you have open. Read AI copilots vs AI agents for the full comparison.
