01 July, 2025
Copilot is Microsoft’s AI assistant that helps you work, write, create, and communicate. It understands natural language prompts, can draft text, summarize content, and generate ideas. Microsoft offers different versions of Copilot depending on your account type and environment.
You can no longer sign in with your @kaust.edu.sa account to the public, free Copilot. KAUST provides access to Copilot Chat, which is safe and secure to use with KAUST data inside Microsoft 365. If you choose to use the public Copilot, you must sign in with a personal Microsoft account, for example @outlook.com or @hotmail.com.
| Product | Safe for KAUST sensitive data | Availability at KAUST | License and access | Where your data goes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Copilot (public) | Not safe | Available (public) | Requires a personal Microsoft account, not @kaust.edu.sa | Processed by Microsoft’s public Copilot service | Use only for general or non-sensitive work outside KAUST. |
| Copilot Chat | Safe | Available now | Included with KAUST Microsoft 365 accounts. Access from the Microsoft 365 Home page (portal.office.com). | Stays within KAUST’s Microsoft 365 environment with enterprise protections | Designed for secure usage with KAUST data and workflows. |
| Copilot for Microsoft 365 | Safe | Not yet available | Enterprise license, details will be announced by KAUST IT | Stays within KAUST’s secure Microsoft 365 tenant | KAUST IT will communicate availability and rollout plans. |
Copilot Chat is the safest way to use AI in Microsoft 365 at KAUST. It helps answer questions, summarize content you can access, and draft or refine text while keeping data in KAUST’s environment.
Contact the KAUST IT Service Desk:
