The free and paid versions of Microsoft Copilot now have options to choose from multiple AI models. Model selection includes versions of ChatGPT and Claude, but varies depending on which version of Copilot you are using and which app you are using.
The update gives users more flexibility while keeping everything within the secure Microsoft 365 environment.
How you choose the model depends on which app you are using:
- To choose a model when in the online version of Copilot, click the button that says “Auto” in the upper right-hand corner, then select the AI model you want to use.
- To choose a model when in one of the desktop apps, click the Copilot logo, then click the three dots in the righthand corner when the Copilot window appears.
Users of UAB's free Copilot chat instance can access different AI models using the Auto dropdown in the upper righthand corner when you are logged in online. You'll see "Auto," which selects the best model for your query, as well as "Quick Response" and "Think Deeper," which allows you to select different levels of AI compute power. You can also select from several versions of ChatGPT/OpenAI.
Model selection is available in Copilot Chat, the Researcher agent, and a growing list of Microsoft 365 desktop apps. The table below shows the current state.
| App / Surface | Can users select a model? | What they can choose |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot Chat (free + M365) | Yes | Auto, Quick, Deep + GPT vs Claude |
| Word / Excel / PowerPoint | Sometimes | Limited: GPT vs Claude (rolling out) |
| Outlook / Teams / Loop | No | Automatic only |
| Researcher agent | Yes | OpenAI vs Claude (reasoning models) |
Each model may respond a little differently. Having access to more than one option can help you:
- Get clearer summaries or explanations
- Compare responses and refine your results
- Choose the style or tone that works best for your task
Copilot continues to follow UAB’s existing data protection and security practices. This means:
- Your access to files, emails, and chats remains the same
- Copilot only uses information you already have permission to view
- Institutional data stays within approved Microsoft 365 environments
AI model selection is available in the campus Microsoft 365 tenant for uab.edu users. AI model selection is available in the paid version of Copilot for Health System users.
As always, follow UAB’s AI guidelines when using generative AI tools.