The Copilot Connection

Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell
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Jul 29, 2025 • 1h 9min

CCDev 2 - what you need to think about with MCP

In this discussion, Garry Trinder, a Developer Advocate at Microsoft, dives into the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and its game-changing potential for developers. He highlights the challenges of integrating MCP, from enhancing documentation to establishing governance. Trinder stresses the importance of crafting user-friendly materials and the adaptability of MCP servers for efficient software development. The conversation also delves into practical strategies for getting started with MCP while unlocking significant productivity gains in AI applications.
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Jun 20, 2025 • 46min

CCDev 1 - Navigating Copilot extensibility

Garry Trinder, a Developer Advocate at Microsoft, dives into Copilot extensibility and its potential. He discusses why extending Copilot is crucial for tailored solutions, outlining various methods for enhancement, whether for end users or specialists. The importance of personalizing AI tools and integrating external knowledge sources for improved productivity is emphasized. Trinder also highlights the delicate balance between deterministic and non-deterministic approaches in AI applications, making a case for responsible AI practices and continuous adaptation in an evolving landscape.
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Jun 7, 2025 • 1h 6min

Ep 31 - Copilot at conferences

Dive into the latest discussions around the fascinating collapse of Builder.ai and Microsoft's leadership shake-up affecting AI strategy. The hosts explore unique strategies for presenting at upcoming tech conferences and share their personal experiences from recent events. They also probe into the ethical implications of AI practices, emphasizing the need for investor scrutiny. With an exciting announcement about a Fireside Chat featuring a Microsoft speaker, there's plenty of engaging content on the evolution of AI and community networking opportunities.
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12 snips
May 25, 2025 • 1h 4min

Ep 30 - building on the Build news

Discover the latest from the Microsoft Copilot ecosystem, including game-changing M365 Copilot tuning and the role of notebooks in boosting productivity. The conversation takes a creative turn at the Chelsea Flower Show, showcasing AI in gardening. Explore how AI Foundry enhances integration and efficiency, plus insights on ethical concerns in tech. The hosts tackle fun anecdotes about AI assistants and the innovative applications shaping our digital world. Join the discussion on the importance of community in advancing AI tools!
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Apr 26, 2025 • 52min

Ep 29 - Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release

Send us a textNews, news, news - we have lots of new news! Zoe and Kevin discuss the latest announcements from Microsoft about Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release. We delve into the significance of the Work Trend Index, the new user interface and search experience, and the introduction of memory and notebooks features. Then we dig into the management and reporting of agents, the concept of the human-agent ratio (including some extreme reactions to some new phrases from Microsoft...) and the importance of leadership in leveraging AI capabilities. Finally, we cover some of the magical events coming up.TakeawaysWave 2 announcements from Microsoft include significant updates and features.The Work Trend Index is crucial for understanding productivity trends.A new user interface is being introduced for a better user experience.Memory features will enhance user interactions with Copilot.Notebooks will allow users to group and summarize conversations.The Create Experience will simplify content creation across platforms.Agent management is becoming more streamlined with the Frontier Program.Understanding the human-agent ratio is essential for effective delegation.Upcoming conferences will provide opportunities for community engagement.Sound Bites"The skill of delegation is something that everyone wanted to get.""Minutes saved isn't cashable.""It definitely feels like conference season is in full swing."
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Apr 11, 2025 • 1h 1min

Ep 28 - Copilot and AI in Healthcare with Gary Raife

Send us a textIn this episode of Copilot Connection, Zoe and Kevin are joined by Gary Raife to discuss the transformative potential of AI and Microsoft Copilot in the healthcare sector. We explore the challenges of interoperability, the role of AI in enhancing patient care, and the exciting developments of Dragon Copilot. The conversation also touches on the integration of personal health data, the importance of trust and transparency in AI applications, and the future of healthcare driven by data and technology.TakeawaysHealthcare presents a significant opportunity for AI integration.Interoperability remains a critical challenge in healthcare systems.AI can enhance patient experiences and streamline workflows.Dragon Copilot introduces ambient listening capabilities for clinicians.Wearable technology can provide valuable health data for monitoring.Trust and transparency are essential for AI adoption in healthcare.Personal health data integration can improve patient outcomes.AI should support clinicians rather than replace them.The future of healthcare will be increasingly data-driven.Collaboration between technology and healthcare professionals is vital. Key linksGary's blogNewsIntroducing Researcher and Analyst in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 BlogCopilot Consumer Updates - Your AI Companion - The Official Microsoft BlogNew capabilities in Azure AI Foundry to build advanced agentic applications  | Microsoft Azure BlogInterpreter AgentInterpreter in Microsoft Teams meetings - Microsoft SupportKevin's view of Interpreter AgentCopilot Studio Toolkit updates announcedmicrosoft/Power-CAT-Copilot-Studio-KitIntroduction - Model Context ProtocolAnnouncing the Agent2Agent Protocol (A2A) - Google Developers BlogHealthcare relatedMeet Microsoft Dragon Copilot: Your new AI assistant for clinical workflow - Microsoft Industry BlogsMicrosoft Cloud for Healthcare | Microsoft
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Mar 10, 2025 • 56min

Ep 27 - Being responsible with Chris Huntingford

Send us a textHow responsible are you with AI? Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell are joined this week by Chris Huntingford (Director of AI at ANS among many other things!), focusing on responsible AI practices, data management, and the socio-economic impacts of technology. We covered the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical practices in AI implementation. The discussion also touches on the cultural shifts required for successful AI adoption, the challenges of governance in AI systems, and the future of AI agents.We also had an amazing announcement for the Copilot Fireside Chat that you can hear at the end! Or get a sneak peak on the Fireside Chat site.Key takeaways:The importance of responsible AI practices is paramount.Data management and compliance are critical in the AI landscape.Socioeconomic impacts of AI technology must be considered.Education and critical thinking are essential for future generations.Creativity should not be overshadowed by AI advancements.AI-generated content can lead to a decline in quality and creativity.Legal accountability for AI deployment is necessary.Individuals must advocate for ethical AI practices.The EU AI Act sets important standards for AI accountability.Community engagement is vital for responsible AI development. Transparency is crucial in AI deployment.Shared responsibility involves vendors, deployers, and users.Accountability must be established at all levels.Data quality directly impacts AI outcomes.Cultural shifts are necessary for effective AI adoption.Governance in AI is more important than ever.Organizations should focus on training rather than cutting jobs.AI implementation requires careful planning and testing.Responsible AI practices must be prioritized.The future of AI agents needs robust governance frameworks.
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Feb 21, 2025 • 41min

Ep 26 - A prompt dive into prompting

Dive into the world of Microsoft Copilot and discover the art of prompt engineering. Learn advanced prompting techniques that can enhance productivity and lead to better outcomes. Explore the significant role of community resources in AI applications, and why understanding agentic threats is crucial for security. Find out how to effectively utilize the Copilot prompt gallery to streamline your workflows. Plus, hear about exciting tech conferences on the horizon that promise to shape the industry!
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11 snips
Feb 7, 2025 • 57min

Ep 25 - The latest roadmap for M365 Copilot

Discover the latest roadmap updates for Microsoft 365 Copilot, featuring enhancements in Teams that boost collaborative productivity. Accessibility is a key focus as on-screen content analysis aims to improve meeting experiences. Voice recognition technology promises better transcription accuracy. New SharePoint features enhance content discoverability. Upcoming tools for developers will allow custom agent creation, making extensibility more achievable for organizations. Security measures like Data Loss Prevention are crucial for managing sensitive content.
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7 snips
Jan 18, 2025 • 46min

Ep 24 - Copilot Chat and the future of work

Hosts discuss the evolution of Microsoft's Copilot ecosystem, focusing on the new Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat and its unified user experience. They highlight the democratization of AI for frontline workers and the need for sustainable AI practices. Insights from the Future of Work report stress readiness for AI integration across organizations. The conversation emphasizes the importance of user experience design and real-world examples for showcasing AI value, while fostering community engagement for successful adoption.

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