I’ve compared ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing AI in the ultimate AI battle. Bing AI clearly won the clash and was an unexpected winner among these giants. Now, with a new name and features, doing a Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT comparison was a priority.
ChatGPT also has come a long way with newer ways to understand and generate responses. For a fair field of comparison, I used both tools for performing identical tasks. Then, I studied these responses and compared them to the comfort that they give to the users.
It was interesting to see how much generative AI has developed and what the future holds for both Copilot and ChatGPT.
This is going to be fun, trust me!
Microsoft Copilot And ChatGPT – Overview
Below is a quick overview of both chatbots to get you started.
| Factors for comparison | Copilot (Bing AI) | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft | Open AI |
| AI language model used | GPT 4 and GPT 4 Turbo | GPT 4 and GPT 4 Turbo |
| Price | Copilot Pro at $20/month | ChatGPT Plus at $20/month |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Internet Access | Yes | Yes (with ChatGPT Plus) |
| Custom AI model usage | Copilot GPTs | GPT |
| AI image generation | Yes | Yes |
Though the above comparison is for Microsoft Copilot’s integration with Bing search and Bing, that’s not everything; there’s more to what Microsoft Copilot is.
Learn all about Microsoft Copilot next!
Did you know? – The Chatbot market revenue is projected to hit $239.2 Million by 2025!
Microsoft Copilot Overview
Now, breaking down Microsoft Copilot (previously BingAI), the term “Copilot” is what Microsoft is using for its Artificial Intelligence features across its products. The name also has relevance to their GitHub Copilot, which is used for coding.
With Copilot, Microsoft users can now integrate the power of AI into the Microsoft ecosystem.
You can access the Microsoft Copilot as:
- Copilot with Bing– Integrated with the Bing search engine to deliver AI-powered results.
- Copilot with Microsoft 365 – Copilot can now be integrated with Microsoft 365 Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, Teams, Excel, and the suite of apps.
- Copilot with Windows – Windows 11 PCs have a separate “Copilot” button to integrate the power of AI into your computers.
Out of the above, the main focus of this article is the Copilot with Bing and its abilities to perform against the already famous and favorite AI tool by OpenAI – ChatGPT.
Does Microsoft Copilot use GPT 4?
The answer is YES! Open AI and Microsoft share a history, with Microsoft making a substantial investment into Open AI back in 2019.
The two were also in the news recently after the announcement of Sam Altman – the OpenAI CEO, leaving, leading to a swapping of seats at Open AI. Sam Altman was supposed to join Microsoft but soon changed his decision to reclaim his position at Open AI.
With the controversies apart, let’s have a look at the similarity of features of Microsoft Copilot in comparison to ChatGPT.
Copilot Standout Features
Apart from holding conversations with a user and showcasing the basic abilities of a chatbot, Copilot with Bing can do pretty much everything that ChatGPT can:
- Microsoft Bing Copilot is free to use for any user on Bing Microsoft Edge and mobile app.
- It can converse in three different styles – More Creative, More Balanced, and More Precise.
- Access the internet for free and provide real-time information.
- Generate an AI image using DALL E 3.
- Convert the responses into a Word, PDF, or text file.
- Use custom Copilot GPTs to – plan a vacation and get cooking and fitness assistance.
While some of the features that ChatGPT offers are for a price, Microsoft Copilot offers them for free!
ChatGPT Overview
ChatGPT has long been the user favorite since its launch. Open AI also released its AI language model as APIs, allowing others to use its proprietary GPT language model versions.
While ChatGPT is not able to interact directly with third-party applications like Microsoft’s 365, it does allow a user to use extensions and “GPTs.”
ChatGPT is available to users in the following ways:
- ChatGPT (GPT 3.5) – Free access to the basic yet powerful AI model.
- ChatGPT Plus (GPT 4) – A paid subscription of $20/month for the latest AI model and features.
- ChatGPT Teams – For $25/month, it gives higher message caps, advanced data analysis, and workspace sharing.
- ChatGPT Enterprise – Unlimited GPT 4 access, no training on data, priority support.
With the recent updates to ChatGPT, ChatGPT Plus users can interact with ChatGPT using voice, documents, camera, and images too!
Let’s check more of the updates announced for ChatGPT:
ChatGPT Standout Features
- Have a human-like conversation with context retention.
- Access the internet using Bing search (GPT 4).
- Generate AI images with DALL E 3.
- Create a custom GPT for a specific use case.
- Get access to a range of GPTs from the GPT store.
- Generate an image-to-text response with a camera or an image.
- Analyze and visualize data.
- Use over 1000+ plugins.
Demandsage Bonus: There’s more! Check out all you need to know about ChatGPT, its latest updates, and expert ways to use its features from this evaluation of the ChatGPT Chatbot.
Comparing Features Of Copilot vs ChatGPT
Now that you are all brushed up on how similar these two chatbots are, it’s time to check out some major differences between Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT:
Though the Microsoft Copilot may seem similar to ChatGPT, both are evidently very different in terms of their performance, language model usage, accuracy, access to real-time information, “pro” features, user interface, and use cases.
Let’s find out.
Note: The version of Microsoft Copilot I used for this review is entirely using the free plan. Whatever comparisons you would see are with the free Copilot access versus ChatGPT’s Plus plan.
Check how this free Copilot access matches ChatGPTs’s paid subscription.
1. User Interface And Experience
Evaluating Copilot and ChatGPT in terms of their interface, both chatbots are crisp and straightforward. Both come with standard features that you can expect within a chatbot.
Microsoft Copilot:
As mentioned earlier, Copilot can generate content in three different styles:
- More Creative
- More Balanced
- More Precise
Each conversation style differs in the responses that it generates. To get you started, Copilot has a couple of starter prompts that also show what all Copilot can do.
Apart from these, the generated response is often attached with an image you can explore for a quick summary.
Moving further, at the end of each response, you can like or dislike a response to submit feedback, copy the generated response, and export it into a PDF, Word, or text.
Also, the standout feature in terms of the interface is that it can read aloud the generated response, too! But, unlike ChatGPT, Copilot cannot access documents as links.
ChatGPT:
ChatGPT offers a simple user experience without complexities and keeps the user focused. The standard dashboard for both GPT 3.5 and GPT 4 looks like this below:
But, unlike Copilot, ChatGPT cannot respond to you in a specific conversation style. But what it can do instead is work on a set of “custom instructions” that you can set for your ChatGPT profile separately.
Check the image below:
ChatGPT has “conversation starters” that help you with ideas when blank. Each GPT you use has a different conversation starter that can generate a response with a click.
Like Copilot, ChatGPT can also take feedback for the response generated from the prompt. You can like, dislike, regenerate, or keep the response for future responses.
One thing that ChatGPT does better than the Microsoft Copilot here is that it can let you attach files such as documents and images to receive an image-to-text output and use documents as a prompt.
2. Performance And Features
In order to compare the performance of Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, I decided to test them on 5 parameters.
1. Language Model Used And Parameters Trained On
Both Copilot and ChatGPT are based on the same AI model from Open AI – GPT 4. This language model is trained on 1.75 Trillion parameters, giving it access to a large set of data.
2. Accuracy
Since these AI chatbots are based on such large datasets, the responses they provide should be accurate, right? Not always!
Here’s why:
Microsoft Copilot:
Copilot always refers to real-time data as part of its generated response to give out relevant information with helpful images. Though Copilot is based on the same language model as ChatGPT, it takes its result generation to the next step.
Thus, Copilot is better than ChatGPT in terms of the accuracy of the generated responses.
ChatGPT:
ChatGPT cannot be trusted for the accuracy of its information. It is known to make frequent mistakes, and it’s advised to double-check the provided information.
3. Real-Time Information
Out of the two, Microsoft Copilot can access real-time information with Bing, even with its free version, while ChatGPT can’t.
Microsoft Copilot:
Copilot seems to be way ahead of ChatGPT in giving out real-time information, not only with its ability to do so but also in the way that it gives out its responses.
For example, I ran a prompt in Copilot – “How’s the weather today in London?” I got an instant response from Copilot with a weather card personalized as per the location.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT is known to have a knowledge limit when it comes to providing real-time information. The free version of ChatGPT – GPT 3.5 has training data limited to January 2022 and cannot provide live search data.
In order to get access to real-time information (internet access) with ChatGPT, you need a paid subscription to ChatGPT Plus or above.
To compare the way it gives out an answer, I ran the same prompt as above in ChatGPT 4. ChatGPT generated a rather plain response, with plain text that is not as easy to read.
Check out the results:
4. Sources
When it comes to tagging the source of the information for the generated result, both chatbots display an answer with the relevant sources from which they fetched the data. Let’s check:
Microsoft Copilot:
Taking the example of the same result generated above, Microsoft Copilot tags the website from which it got the data for the response systematically, as seen in the image below.
ChatGPT
ChatGPT provides the sources for the information but not as neatly as Copilot. For a source of the generated response, ChatGPT simply interlinks the search query that it ran on Bing without proper segmentation.
5. Microsoft Copilot GPTs vs Open AI Custom GPTs
The most differentiating factor in terms of the performance of both tools is the ability to create a custom GPT model exclusive to the user. While one of them has standard-built models, the other has a huge store of custom-made GPTs to add an edge to its AI abilities.
Glossary: A GPT is a custom version of the AI tool that you can train and use for focused result generation. Read more about GPTs here.
Microsoft Copilot:
As of January 2024, there are only 4 Copilot GPTs apart from the standard Copilot. They are
- Designer – For creating AI images using DALL E 3.
- Vacation planner – to discover travel destinations, plan, and book travel.
- Cooking assistant – helps you plan and cook meals with the ingredients you have.
- Fitness trainer – designs exercises based on your fitness level with nutritional guidance.
ChatGPT:
ChatGPT takes the edge in this parameter as it offers official ChatGPT curated GPTs. Users possess the ability to create a custom GPT and are also able to access the GPTs created by other ChatGPT users from the GPT store.
There are a total of 17 official and some thousands of custom public GPTs included in the GPT store. You name the subject on which you want a custom GPT, and the store has it.
Verdict: Thus, in terms of performance, Copilot is more accurate, provides real-time information better, and cites its data sources. ChatGPT, however, cannot be trusted for accuracy, does not generate user-friendly responses unless asked, but has a range of custom GPTs to choose from.
3. Mobile App Compatibility And Features
Testing the device compatibility, Copilot and ChatGPT can be used from a browser primarily. However, these AI chatbots also have a dedicated mobile application for Android and Apple app stores.
As of January 2024, here are the compatibility details of Copilot and ChatGPT for Android and Apple devices.
Microsoft Copilot Device Compatibility
- Android 11 or later.
ChatGPT Device Compatibility
- Android 6.0 or later.
- iOS 16.1 or later.
Microsoft Copilot Mobile App Features
- Choose a response tone of choice.
- Insert prompts using a microphone.
- Interact with Copilot with an image or camera to chat, search, or solve math problems.
- Read responses aloud in one voice.
ChatGPT Mobile App Features
- Switch across GPT models.
- Chat with ChatGPT with a voice assistant using five voices.
- Insert documents, click an image from the camera, or add from files.
4. Use Cases
Next, I compared these two chatbots for the three use cases below to evaluate the practical use-case comparison.
Testing The GPTs
Users of both these AI tools can use their unique GPTs to help generate topic-focused responses. Compared to ChatGPT, Microsoft has less number of GPTs to choose from, with only 4 options, while ChatGPT has a whole store of them.
For comparison, I am using the GPT used for cooking, which is the official model used by both. I shared a stock refrigerator image from istockphoto.com and asked both to help me prepare a meal. Have a look.
Microsoft Copilot’s Cooking Assistant GPT:
I used the “Cooking Assistant” Copilot GPT for the task. Copilot suggested three dishes to choose from based on the ingredients it could recognize.
Not stopping there, Copilot further asked for my cuisine, spice level, and other meal preferences to narrow my choices further.
ChatGPT’s Sous Chef GPT:
The exclusive GPT for cooking by ChatGPT’s “Sous Chef” understands the request really well and offers a quick fix. The responses generated from this GPT were more intuitive and interactive, too!
After making sure it had all the right ingredients, ChatGPT then explained the steps to make a Frittata and generated an AI image of what the final result should look like.
Finally, the responses ended with a grocery list of what I would require to make the dish.
Verdict:
ChatGPT asked fewer questions and handed me a quick solution, while Copilot asked way too many questions.
Using The Plugins
Both Copilot and ChatGPT can use plugins to elevate the user search experience. Just like the GPTs, Microsoft Copilot has less number of plugins to choose from. As of January 2024, it only has six plugins for use.
ChatGPT, on the other hand, has over 1000 plugins available in its plugin store.
Microsoft Copilot plugins:
Copilot allows you to select a maximum of three plugins to use at a single time. It can help with searching for flights, staying and renting, booking a restaurant table, and shopping.
Here is a list of the plugins that you can use with
- Instacart
- Kayak
- Klarna
- OpenTable
- Shop
- Suno (generate AI audio from text)
ChatGPT’s plugins:
ChatGPT also allows only 3 plugins to be selected. But it has much more under its belt than Copilot, with plugins from popular to lesser-known developers. Some of the most popular plugins offered from the 1000+ plugins by ChatGPT are;
- Wikipedia
- Wolfram
- Zapier
- Expedia
- Tasty recipes
- Canva
Note: Please be mindful of the plugins you select, as they are powered by a third-party developer. ChatGPT can send your conversation data to the developer, too.
Verdict: ChatGPT has more plugins than Copilot and hence wins this comparison for the number of options it provides.
AI Image Generation Abilities
I have used a number of free and paid AI image generators in the past, but this integration of an AI image generator into a chatbot is game-changing.
Ideally, to generate a quality AI image, the user has to sign up for expensive AI image generators that are difficult to work with. However, generating an image with the chatbots is as easy as having a conversation.
Check out the images I generated on Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT using identical prompts. Both generate high-quality AI images using Open AI’s most advanced AI image generation model – “DALL E 3.”
Yet, there is a vast difference between the images generated by both.
Prompt used: Generate an image of a Frog in a car race driving the car.
Microsoft Designer AI image generation:
Copilot has a separate GPT that is used to generate AI images. Previously known as “Bing Image Creator,” this new feature is tagged under the name “Designer” GPT.
Copilot generates four images based on the prompts received and adds suggestive elements to the prompt to add more value to the generated image.
Plus, for every image generated, a user can further select any part of the image and edit the image right within the chat to try out different art styles and aspect ratios. Here’s my result:
ChatGPT’s AI image generation:
ChatGPT understood the assignment without a hitch, and the AI-generated image I received was stunning, with all the elements that were needed for the prompt.
Unlike Copilot, ChatGPT generates a single image at a time, does not add extra elements, and sticks to the prompt given.
Also, ChatGPT does not offer image editing features as an additional feature. Whatever edits you wish, you can insert a new text prompt and ask ChatGPT to work on it.
Verdict: ChatGPT generates a hassle-free AI image adhering to the user prompt. Copilot, though, offers options to edit the image within the chats but modifies the user prompt without consent.
Hence, I would rate both equally for this test.
5. Market Impact
Both AI chatbots have brought about significant changes in the way users interact with the internet. The methods to research, analyze, and source information have shifted from simple “Googling” to adding a touch of AI in their work.
Here’s how these AI chatbots have affected the industry since its inception.
Microsoft Copilot:
Launched as the Bing Chat AI, the Microsoft Copilot or the Chat Copilot has been a key factor in the increase in page visits on Bing. It improved Bing’s page visits by almost 16%!
In addition, since Bing started using the GPT 4 model for its mobile app, the Bing AI Copilot app saw a staggering 600% growth.
ChatGPT:
The impact that ChatGPT has had needs no introduction. The ChatGPT user number reached 1 Million within just five days of its launch and broke multiple records.
For perspective, Netflix needed 3.5 years, Twitter needed 2 years, and Facebook required 10 months to gain a million users.
ChatGPT is also estimated to generate $1 Billion in revenue in 2024!
Case study:
According to research from MIT, ChatGPT is set to revolutionize the economy. Other similar AI and tech giants can dominate the growth of AI for their own advantage, and AI will probably transform the way that people do their jobs.
6. Privacy And Security
When it comes to privacy, there isn’t much if you see the level of data that Copilot or ChatGPT learn from the user interaction. The user feedback helps the generative AI model refine its responses. Hence, these AI chatbots can’t be considered highly private.
According to this piece from the Harvard Business Review, hackers are testing the abilities of AI chatbots to be used for hacking purposes. With the potential that ChatGPT holds to converse, generate images, and converse in a human-like style using voice, it raises potential red flags for cyber security.
7. Pricing
Even with these advanced features, access to these AI chatbots is pretty affordable. Both Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT offer a free version, but both also come with a paid subscription with additional features and benefits.
Microsoft Copilot Pricing:
ChatGPT is only available in one format – as an AI assistant. Microsoft Copilot, as stated above, is available as an AI assistant and within the Microsoft suite of products. Here’s a breakdown of the prices.
| Microsoft Copilot | Free |
| Microsoft Copilot Pro | $20/month |
| Copilot with Microsoft 365 | $99.99/year |
| Microsoft Copilot Studio (for Microsoft 365) | $200/month |
ChatGPT pricing:
ChatGPT offers access to 4 subscription plans. Apart from this, depending on the usage, ChatGPT also shares an API access and charges the user accordingly.
Have a look at their pricing plans:
| ChatGPT (GPT 3.5) | Free |
| ChatGPT Plus (GPT 4) | $20/month |
| ChatGPT Team | $30/month |
| ChatGPT Enterprise | Custom pricing |
Microsoft Copilot And ChatGPT – What Does The Future Hold?
Wrapping up the comparison, the future for both these AI chatbots looks bright yet equally threatening. While both have great authority and user response, there are competitors like Meta AI chat assistant and Google’s Bard and Gemini that are not far behind.
Both Meta AI assistant and Google Bard can now generate AI images, and Gemini is at a whole different level with its ability to interact live with a user.
But in summary, the entire group of Gen AI tools are here to stay and seems to be only growing. With advanced language models, newer and improved modes of communication, plugins, GPTs, and the internet, the future of Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT part of the Gen AI group looks very strong.
Related Resources:
Who’s The Winner — MicroSoft Copilot or ChatGPT?
Seeing the closeness that both of these AI chatbots share, with the common AI language used and the similarity of the features, it’s hard to pick one victory.
I ran tests using the free version of Microsoft Copilot, while for ChatGPT, I used a paid subscription. This was not because of the unavailability of a paid plan but because of how good Microsoft Copilot is with its free version!
ChatGPT might be more popular and have more features in terms of GPTs and plugins, but in my opinion, Microsoft Copilot is much better. Whatever features that ChatGPT offers separately at a price tag, Copilot does that for free.
Copilot-generated responses are more personal, provide sources, and can be altered as per the tone needed. Thus, to settle this debate of Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT, Microsoft is the undisputed winner.
Drop in your comments below to share your experience using either of these AI chatbots!
