How to Use Copilot in PowerPoint Presentations

As someone who frequently creates presentations, I know how time-consuming and challenging it can be to design slides that are both informative and visually appealing. That’s where Copilot in Microsoft PowerPoint comes in. This AI-powered assistant is a game-changer, making the process of creating and editing presentations more efficient and enjoyable.

In this article, I’ll walk you through how to use Copilot in PowerPoint, share some tips and tricks, and highlight its key features.

Key Takeaways:

• Ensure your Microsoft 365 subscription is active, save your presentation to OneDrive, and enable autosave to access Copilot in PowerPoint.
• Copilot generates multi-slide presentations from simple prompts, allowing for easy refinement.
• Use Copilot to add slides, suggest flow, and create speaker notes, streamlining your process.
• More specific prompts lead to better-tailored presentations, making Copilot a powerful customization tool.

 

Introduction to Copilot in PowerPoint

Getting Started with Copilot

First things first, let’s talk about how to enable Copilot in PowerPoint. If you’re using Microsoft 365, you should see the Copilot icon on the Home ribbon.

If it’s greyed out, make sure your presentation is saved to OneDrive and that autosave is toggled on.

Once everything is set up, you’re ready to start using Copilot.

Creating a Presentation

One of the most impressive features of Copilot is its ability to create a presentation from scratch. Let me show you how I do it:

STEP 1: Start by opening PowerPoint and selecting a blank presentation.

STEP 2: Click on the Copilot button in the Home tab. This opens the Copilot pane on the right side of your screen.

STEP 3: In the prompt box, type a description of the presentation you want to create. For example, “Create a sales pitch presentation for a tech startup called Infotech to impress potential investors and secure investments.” Click Send.

Copilot will generate a multi-slide presentation with placeholder text and images based on your prompt.

 

Refine Your Presentation

Customizing Your Presentation

Once Copilot has generated your presentation, you can customize it to better suit your needs. Here are some ways I like to tweak my slides:

• Edit Text: Replace the placeholder text with your own content. Copilot’s suggestions are a great starting point, but you’ll want to personalize the information to match your specific needs.

• Change Images: Click on any image in the presentation, go to the Picture Format tab, and select Change Picture. You can choose from stock images, your own photos, or other sources.

• Apply Themes: Use Microsoft Designer, an AI design tool integrated with PowerPoint, to quickly apply new designs to your slides. This ensures a consistent and professional look throughout your presentation.

Enhancing Your Slides

Copilot isn’t just about creating slides; it also helps you enhance them. Here are some features I find particularly useful:

• Add New Slides: If you need more slides, simply ask Copilot to add them. For example, you can type “Add a slide about our company’s mission and values,” and Copilot will generate a new slide based on your request.

• Generate Speaker Notes: If you need speaker notes, Copilot can generate them for you. Just type “Generate speaker notes for this slide,” and you’ll get a helpful summary to guide your presentation.

Summarizing Your Presentation

One of my favorite features of Copilot is its ability to summarize presentations. This is particularly useful when you need to create an executive summary or a quick overview of your slides. Here’s how to do it:

• Open the Copilot Pane: Click on the Copilot button in the Home tab to open the Copilot pane.

• Enter Your Prompt: Type “Summarize this presentation” in the prompt field and click Send.

Copilot will generate a summary of your presentation, including references to the slides it pulled information from. This makes it easy to see which slides might need special attention.

Ask Questions to Copilot

I can engage with Copilot by typing questions related to my presentation, allowing for interactive assistance in real-time. Whether I need help with content organization, slide design, or specific details, I can simply phrase my inquiry and let Copilot generate a response tailored to my needs.

For example, if I’m struggling to find the right way to present data, I might ask, “What market opportunity does Infotech address?” Copilot can then provide an answer to this question based on your content.

It is important to note that these answers are AI-generated and may be incorrect. So, it is best to check it yourself.

 

Tips and Tricks

To get the most out of Copilot, here are some tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way:

• Be Specific with Prompts: The more specific you are with your prompts, the better Copilot can assist you. For example, instead of saying “Create a presentation,” try “Create a presentation about hybrid meeting best practices that include examples for team building.”
• Use Dictation: If you prefer speaking over typing, use the dictation feature in the prompt area. This is especially useful for people with accessibility or mobility issues.
• Experiment with Designs: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different designs and layouts. Microsoft Designer offers a variety of options to help you find the perfect look for your presentation.
• Save Frequently: While Copilot is great at generating content, it’s always a good idea to save your work frequently. This ensures you don’t lose any important changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Copilot available in PowerPoint?

Yes, Copilot is available in PowerPoint for subscribers of Microsoft 365, specifically for corporate users. It has been designed to provide AI assistance for creating more impactful and professional presentations. As of now, individuals or smaller companies may need to wait a bit longer for accessibility as it’s yet to be released to the general public.

How do I enable Copilot in PowerPoint?

To enable Copilot in PowerPoint, ensure your Microsoft 365 subscription is active and you have the latest version of the app. Open PowerPoint, find the Copilot icon in the top right corner of the Home ribbon, click it, and enter your presentation outline in the chat box. Save to OneDrive and turn on Autosave to fully engage Copilot’s powers.

Can Copilot be Customized for Specific Presentation Needs?

Yes, Copilot can be customized to meet specific presentation needs. It responds to detailed prompts, which means you can direct it to generate content and designs that align with particular topics, branding guidelines, and audience demographics. By inputting precise requirements, you ensure that Copilot produces slides tailored to your unique presentation criteria.

What to Do when Facing Issues with Copilot in PowerPoint?

When facing issues with Copilot in PowerPoint, start by ensuring your software is updated and you have a stable internet connection, as these are common culprits. If the problem persists, consider restarting PowerPoint and checking Microsoft’s support page for known issues. As a last resort, contact Microsoft Support for personalized assistance.

Which is the best AI for PowerPoint?

Copilot, available via Microsoft 365, is an excellent choice, especially for those deeply integrated into Microsoft’s ecosystem. Consider your unique presentation requirements and preferences to choose the best AI assistant for you.