Glossary · 2 · The AI landscape: brands and model families
Microsoft (Copilot, Azure AI)
Also known as: Copilot, GitHub Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, Phi
Microsoft brings generative AI into its products under the Copilot brand — in Windows, Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams, and, through its subsidiary GitHub, in GitHub Copilot for developers. Azure AI Foundry gives businesses access to models from OpenAI, Microsoft’s own Phi models and other providers.
- Beginner
- Technical writers
- Technical marketers
- Technical project managers
- Developers
- AI brand
In one sentence
Microsoft Copilot in brief: AI in Microsoft 365, Windows and GitHub, plus Azure AI Foundry for models from OpenAI and others.
Example
A project manager asks Microsoft 365 Copilot in Teams to summarize a meeting and draft follow-up tasks; a developer uses GitHub Copilot to write tests.
Why it matters on your learning path
- Technical writers: Copilot in Word works inside existing documents and permissions — useful for drafts, but check sources it pulls from SharePoint.
- Technical marketers: Copilot is embedded where business users already work, which shapes AI adoption in many B2B customers.
- Technical project managers: Copilot respects Microsoft 365 permissions, so poorly managed access rights become visible fast.
- Developers: GitHub Copilot is one of the most widely used AI coding assistants.
Keep in mind
Product names, model versions and prices change often. This entry describes the brand’s position as of its review date; check the vendor’s own pages before you cite a model name or capability.