Microsoft has made a new AI assistant called Microsoft 365 Copilot. It will be available for everyone to use starting from 1 November. This AI assistant is built into Microsoft’s office apps and can do lots of different things like summarizing meetings in Teams, writing emails, and making documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Microsoft hopes that this tool will get rid of boring work, but some people worry that it might replace human workers and make us rely too much on AI.

Some people are also worried that Microsoft 365 Copilot might not follow the new rules for AI. In Europe and China, there are rules that say people need to know if they’re talking to an AI. Colette Stallbaumer, who is in charge of Microsoft 365, thinks it’s up to the person using Copilot to make it clear. But the EU says it’s the companies that make AI tools who need to make sure they’re used responsibly.

When Copilot was shown in a demo, it was able to summarize a long chain of emails and come up with a response in just a few seconds. It could also make a PowerPoint presentation based on a Word document and give summaries of discussions in Teams meetings. But there were some things it couldn’t do. Copilot will cost $30 a month and needs an internet connection to work.

Some people think this kind of technology might mess up jobs in administration. They worry about relying too much on AI tools and the risks of things going wrong, like system failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in rules. It’s important for people and companies to use AI tools responsibly and know about the possible problems and risks that come with them.

Original news source: Microsoft’s new AI assistant can go to meetings for you (BBC)

Listen

Slow

Normal

Fast

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Students will read the article individually and then work in pairs or small groups to summarize the main points in their own words. They can take turns sharing their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Each group will discuss their opinions on the use of AI assistants like Microsoft 365 Copilot. They can then create a poll with questions about the topic and conduct a survey among their classmates. Afterwards, they can present their findings to the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select key vocabulary words from the article and write them on separate pieces of paper. Each student will take turns choosing a word and drawing a quick sketch to represent it. The rest of the class will try to guess the word based on the drawing. This activity will help reinforce vocabulary retention and understanding.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups: one group will discuss the pros of using AI assistants like Microsoft 365 Copilot, while the other group will discuss the cons. Students can take turns presenting their arguments and engaging in a class debate. This activity will encourage critical thinking and the ability to express opinions.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the students think individually about the potential benefits and drawbacks of using AI assistants in the workplace. Then, pair them up and have them discuss their thoughts with a partner. Finally, ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole class. This activity promotes reflection and collaborative discussion.

Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the name of Microsoft’s new AI assistant?
2. When will Microsoft 365 Copilot be available for everyone to use?
3. What are some tasks that Microsoft 365 Copilot can do?
4. What are some concerns people have about Microsoft 365 Copilot?
5. What are the rules in Europe and China regarding AI?
6. Who does Colette Stallbaumer think should make it clear if someone is talking to an AI?
7. What are some tasks that Copilot was able to do in a demo?
8. What are some potential problems and risks associated with using AI tools?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Microsoft has made a new AI assistant called Microsoft 365 Copilot. It will be available for everyone to use starting from 1 November. This AI assistant is built into Microsoft’s office apps and can do lots of (1)______ things like summarizing (2)______ in (3)______, writing emails, and (4)______ documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Microsoft hopes that this tool will get rid of boring work, but some people worry that it might replace (5)______ workers and make us rely too much on AI.

Some people are also (6)______ that Microsoft 365 Copilot might not follow the new rules for AI. In Europe and China, there are rules that say people need to know if they’re talking to an AI. (7)______ Stallbaumer, who is in (8)______ of Microsoft 365, thinks it’s up to the person using Copilot to make it clear. But the EU says it’s the companies that make AI tools who need to make sure they’re used responsibly.

When Copilot was shown in a demo, it was able to summarize a long chain of (9)______ and come up with a response in just a few seconds. It could also make a (10)______ presentation based on a Word (11)______ and give summaries of discussions in Teams meetings. But there were some (12)______ it couldn’t do. Copilot will cost $30 a month and needs an internet connection to work.

Some people think this kind of technology might mess up jobs in administration. They worry about relying too much on AI tools and the risks of things going wrong, like (13)______ failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in (14)______. It’s important for people and (15)______ to use AI tools responsibly and know about the (16)______ problems and risks that come with them.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is an AI assistant?
2. How would you feel if your job was replaced by an AI assistant?
3. Do you like the idea of using AI tools to do boring work? Why or why not?
4. Do you think AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot will make us rely too much on technology? Why or why not?
5. How do you think AI tools can be used responsibly?
6. Why do you think some people are worried about AI tools not following the rules?
7. How would you feel if you couldn’t tell if you were talking to a human or an AI assistant?
8. Do you think it’s fair for the EU to say that companies should be responsible for AI tools? Why or why not?
9. How would you feel if an AI assistant could summarize your emails and respond to them for you?
10. What do you think are the risks of relying too much on AI tools in administration jobs?
11. How do you think AI tools can help improve productivity in the workplace?
12. Why do you think it’s important for people and companies to know about the possible problems and risks of using AI tools?
13. Do you think $30 a month is a reasonable price for an AI assistant? Why or why not?
14. How do you think AI tools can be protected from system failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in rules?
15. What do you think the future of AI assistants will be like?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. AI
2. assistant
3. Microsoft
4. tools
5. rules
6. rely
7. responsible
8. risks

Meanings:
(a) A helper that does tasks for you
(b) A big technology company that makes computers
(c) Possible bad things that might happen
(d) A smart computer program that can think
(e) Things that help you do a job or task
(f) Depend on something or someone
(g) Do things in a careful and thoughtful way
(h) Guidelines that tell you what you can and can’t do
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the name of the new AI assistant made by Microsoft?
(a) Microsoft Office
(b) Microsoft 365 Copilot
(c) Microsoft Teams
(d) Microsoft AI

2. When will Microsoft 365 Copilot be available for everyone to use?
(a) 1 December
(b) 1 November
(c) 1 October
(d) 1 September

3. What can Microsoft 365 Copilot do?
(a) Play games, watch movies, and listen to music
(b) Make phone calls, send text messages, and take photos
(c) Cook meals, clean the house, and do laundry
(d) Summarize meetings, write emails, and create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations

4. What are some concerns people have about Microsoft 365 Copilot?
(a) It might be too expensive and not worth the cost
(b) It might not work without an internet connection
(c) It might replace human workers and make us rely too much on AI
(d) It might only be available in certain countries

5. What do the rules in Europe and China say about AI?
(a) AI tools need to be used responsibly by companies
(b) AI tools should not be used at all
(c) People need to know if they’re talking to an AI
(d) AI tools should only be used for specific tasks

6. What was Copilot able to do in a demo?
(a) Play games, watch movies, and listen to music
(b) Make phone calls, send text messages, and take photos
(c) Cook meals, clean the house, and do laundry
(d) Summarize emails, create presentations, and give meeting summaries

7. How much will Microsoft 365 Copilot cost?
(a) $30 a month
(b) $10 a month
(c) $50 a month
(d) It will be free to use

8. What are some risks associated with using AI tools?
(a) System failures, hacking, glitches, and changes in rules
(b) It might be too expensive and not worth the cost
(c) It might not work without an internet connection
(d) It might only be available in certain countries

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Microsoft hopes that this AI tool will eliminate boring work.
2. Microsoft 365 Copilot is not built into Microsoft’s office apps and cannot perform various tasks like summarizing meetings, writing emails, and creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
3. The AI assistant will be available for everyone to use starting from 1 November.
4. There are no rules in Europe and China stating that people should be informed if they are interacting with an AI, and it is unclear if Microsoft 365 Copilot follows these rules.
5. However, there are limitations to what Copilot can do, and it requires a $30 monthly subscription and an internet connection to function.
6. Microsoft has not developed a new AI assistant called Microsoft 365 Copilot.
7. In a demo, Copilot was able to summarize emails, generate responses, create PowerPoint presentations, and provide meeting summaries.
8. Some people are unconcerned that Microsoft 365 Copilot may replace human workers and lead to excessive reliance on AI.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. What is Microsoft 365 Copilot and what can it do?
2. When will Microsoft 365 Copilot be available for everyone to use?
3. What are some concerns people have about Microsoft 365 Copilot?
4. How much does Microsoft 365 Copilot cost and what does it need to work?
5. Why is it important for people and companies to use AI tools responsibly?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the name of Microsoft’s new AI assistant?
– Microsoft’s new AI assistant is called Microsoft 365 Copilot.

2. When will Microsoft 365 Copilot be available for everyone to use?
– Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available for everyone to use starting from 1 November.

3. What are some tasks that Microsoft 365 Copilot can do?
– Microsoft 365 Copilot can do tasks like summarizing meetings in Teams, writing emails, and creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

4. What are some concerns people have about Microsoft 365 Copilot?
– Some people are concerned that Microsoft 365 Copilot might replace human workers and make us rely too much on AI. They also worry about the risks of system failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in rules.

5. What are the rules in Europe and China regarding AI?
– In Europe and China, there are rules that say people need to know if they’re talking to an AI. The EU believes it’s the responsibility of the companies that make AI tools to ensure they are used responsibly.

6. Who does Colette Stallbaumer think should make it clear if someone is talking to an AI?
– Colette Stallbaumer, who is in charge of Microsoft 365, thinks it’s up to the person using Copilot to make it clear if they are talking to an AI.

7. What are some tasks that Copilot was able to do in a demo?
– In a demo, Copilot was able to summarize a long chain of emails and come up with a response in just a few seconds. It could also create a PowerPoint presentation based on a Word document and provide summaries of discussions in Teams meetings.

8. What are some potential problems and risks associated with using AI tools?
– Some potential problems and risks associated with using AI tools include system failures, hacking, glitches, or changes in rules. It is important for people and companies to use AI tools responsibly and be aware of these possible issues.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) different
(2) meetings
(3) Teams
(4) making
(5) human
(6) worried
(7) Colette
(8) charge
(9) emails
(10) PowerPoint
(11) document
(12) things
(13) system
(14) rules
(15) companies
(16) possible
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. AI
Answer: (d) A smart computer program that can think

2. assistant
Answer: (a) A helper that does tasks for you

3. Microsoft
Answer: (b) A big technology company that makes computers

4. tools
Answer: (e) Things that help you do a job or task

5. rules
Answer: (h) Guidelines that tell you what you can and can’t do

6. rely
Answer: (f) Depend on something or someone

7. responsible
Answer: (g) Do things in a careful and thoughtful way

8. risks
Answer: (c) Possible bad things that might happen
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the name of the new AI assistant made by Microsoft?
Answer: (b) Microsoft 365 Copilot

2. When will Microsoft 365 Copilot be available for everyone to use?
Answer: (b) 1 November

3. What can Microsoft 365 Copilot do?
Answer: (d) Summarize meetings, write emails, and create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations

4. What are some concerns people have about Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Answer: (c) It might replace human workers and make us rely too much on AI

5. What do the rules in Europe and China say about AI?
Answer: (c) People need to know if they’re talking to an AI

6. What was Copilot able to do in a demo?
Answer: (d) Summarize emails, create presentations, and give meeting summaries

7. How much will Microsoft 365 Copilot cost?
Answer: (a) $30 a month

8. What are some risks associated with using AI tools?
Answer: (a) System failures, hacking, glitches, and changes in rules
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Microsoft hopes that this AI tool will eliminate boring work. (Answer: True)
2. Microsoft 365 Copilot is not built into Microsoft’s office apps and cannot perform various tasks like summarizing meetings, writing emails, and creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. (Answer: False)
3. The AI assistant will be available for everyone to use starting from 1 November. (Answer: True)
4. There are no rules in Europe and China stating that people should be informed if they are interacting with an AI, and it is unclear if Microsoft 365 Copilot follows these rules. (Answer: False)
5. However, there are limitations to what Copilot can do, and it requires a $30 monthly subscription and an internet connection to function. (Answer: True)
6. Microsoft has not developed a new AI assistant called Microsoft 365 Copilot. (Answer: False)
7. In a demo, Copilot was able to summarize emails, generate responses, create PowerPoint presentations, and provide meeting summaries. (Answer: True)
8. Some people are unconcerned that Microsoft 365 Copilot may replace human workers and lead to excessive reliance on AI. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧