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Learning how to master regenerative AI all comes down to the prompt, here Vogue breaks down how to effectively use Microsoft Copilot to make your life easier.
There’s a skills shortage in the technology space in Australia. That was the message echoed by several panels during the recent Vogue Codes Summit held at Sydney’s Carriageworks in June.
There can be no doubting the monumental year 2023 was for Artificial Intelligence. Concepts around its deployment and its function exploded into the mainstream, dominating discussion for much of the year. But in 2024, AI is firmly entrenched in how we work and how we play, and that role is only going to grow. This year, Microsoft wants people of all backgrounds and experiences to start using AI tools to maximise their benefits across all aspects of everyday life.
For the closing panel of the Vogue Codes summit, discussing “Our Place in the World: Global Focus”, one part of the discussion was driven by Microsoft Azure AI product lead, Prerita Mehta. Alongside director of data strategy and management at News Corp Australia, Louise Cooper; CommBank AI advanced analytics lead in business banking, Sonal Surana; and head of policy design, tech policy design centre, Zoe Hawkins; the group discussed the role of Australia in the AI space around the world.
Microsoft Azure AI product lead, Prerita Mehta
Speaking on the growth of Generative AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, Mehta was supportive of what she called the “productivity and efficiency gains” tied to these tools, and how they are being implemented in Australia’s public sector already. “Australian companies,” Mehta said, “should seriously be considering a proactive approach, and having some level of direction around what their generative AI—or AI in general—strategy looks like.”
Microsoft has been championing the use of regenerative AI to help workers alleviate the pressures in the workplace, and at home. Microsoft’s Copilot is what the technology brand dubs, “your everyday AI companion”. A software that revamps the traditional web search experience, and uses its own knowledge of the internet, text, voices, and images to assist with searching, collating data, and creating new data.
Think things like building travel itineraries, creating a weekly meal or fitness planner, and even curating your content. The opportunities for your new sidekick are almost limitless. Unlike other generative AI programs, Copilot cites the data sources behind every one of its answers, and these are centred in Bing search results. Some generative AI tools are limited by the AI model itself, but that’s not the case with Copilot.
From L-R: head of policy design, tech policy design centre, Zoe Hawkins, Microsoft Azure AI product lead, Prerita Mehta, CommBank AI advanced analytics lead in business banking, Sonal Surana, and director of data strategy and management at News Corp Australia, Louise Cooper.
If all of this sounds too techy for you, don’t fret. AI knowledge is not something that has a prerequisite of computer science or any level of coding experience to be able to leverage to your advantage. To get the most out of regenerative AI, at least for a great many of us, comes down to mastering the art of the ‘prompt’.
Think of these as the instructions for your Copilot, and depend on the input of concise, natural language, and the need to reiterate your prompt should the answer not be the one you feel is right. Beginning with ‘Action’, that’s your starting point that will explain what you want Copilot to do. Then, your ‘Style’ which will outline to Copilot what you want the final response presented as, and finally ‘Key details’, where you can provide more context over the situation that will influence the response.
This helps train the system to better understand you, and the questions. It’s a jumpstart for your creativity and productivity, a crucial assistant to research, and really just saves you a lot of time, allowing you to focus on the things that matter more.
In today’s world, taking the forward step into learning how to use AI and regenerative AI is not a ‘maybe’, but an ‘absolutely’. These new tools are human-led in their design, and supported by data compiled by Microsoft to best help us where we need it most. Now is the time to begin to experiment with these dynamic AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, and hone your prompt engineering skills, something anyone can learn, and better still, master.
Microsoft Copilot is available for free across all your web browsers, or on your mobile app.