Copilot in Action: Real Wins and Pitfalls in M365

Sep 17, 2025

Joshua Jones, Director of Training at Voltage Learning, illuminates the fascinating intersection of AI and education. He unveils how Microsoft Copilot transforms tools like Loop and Whiteboard into powerful collaborators, sparking creativity with sticky-note prompts. Joshua discusses the evolution of Copilot, highlighting its newfound reliability in Excel and the streamlined project setup in Loop. He also tackles the challenges of inconsistent formatting in PowerPoint and shares insights on using Microsoft Graph to securely access data, making AI a seamless part of professional workflows.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Copilot Reliability Has Improved

Copilot's reliability has markedly improved since early releases, especially in Excel and data tasks.
Joshua finds teaching demos rewarding as numerical and counting errors have decreased over time.

ADVICE

Use Whiteboard To Break Planning Silence

Use Copilot in Whiteboard to kickstart idea sessions by generating sticky-note prompts.
Let Copilot go first to break planning silence and prompt human connections between ideas.

ADVICE

Generate Ready-Made Loop Pages

Generate Loop pages and templates with Copilot to avoid manual formatting and accelerate project starts.
Ask Copilot for a tailored page (e.g., a business plan) and it will create prefilled sections and to-dos instantly.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

🎙️ FULL SHOW NOTES
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/732

What happens when AI meets the classroom, the boardroom, and the whiteboard? In this episode, Joshua Jones—Director of Training at Voltage Learning—shares how he’s helping professionals and educators unlock the full potential of Microsoft Copilot across M365. From overlooked features in Loop and Whiteboard to the evolving power of AI-generated files, Joshua offers a front-row seat to the real-world wins, challenges, and transformations happening at the intersection of tech and learning.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Copilot’s evolution: Early adopters faced limitations, but today’s Copilot delivers more reliable results—especially in Excel and Loop.
- Whiteboard + Copilot = Idea Engine: Learn how Copilot can kickstart planning sessions with sticky-note prompts that spark collaboration.
- Loop’s hidden power: Discover how Copilot in Loop streamlines project setup with smart templates and real-time collaboration.
- Microsoft Graph demystified: Understand how Graph powers Copilot’s data access—securely and contextually.
- Why formatting still frustrates: Hear why PowerPoint’s Copilot lags behind and what that reveals about AI’s current limitations.

🧰 RESOURCES MENTIONED:
👉 Microsoft Loop – Collaborative workspace with Copilot integration: https://loop.microsoft.com
👉 Microsoft Whiteboard – Digital whiteboard with Copilot support: https://whiteboard.microsoft.com
👉 Microsoft Graph – Data connectivity framework powering Copilot: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/overview
👉 Perchance – AI character generator and storytelling tool: https://perchance.org
👉 Microsoft Designer – AI-powered graphic design tool: https://designer.microsoft.com
👉 Microsoft MVP YouTube Series - How to Become a Microsoft MVP - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqdRJDPVE4PtTlm6quDhiu7
👉Joshua's Speaking Engagement: https://namctsummit.com/speakers-1
👉Joshua's GitHub: https://github.com/joshjones-jp

Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption is a Microsoft Press book for leaders and consultants. It shows how to identify high-value use cases, set guardrails, enable champions, and measure impact, so Copilot sticks. Practical frameworks, checklists, and metrics you can use this month. Get the book: https://bit.ly/CopilotAdoption

Support the show

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on Linkedin.

Thanks for listening 🚀 - Mark Smith