Microsoft 365 Copilot is becoming much more than a chat assistant. One of the biggest improvements introduced by Microsoft is model choice, allowing users to select how Copilot responds depending on the task they’re working on. Instead of using only one AI mode, users can now choose between fast responses, deeper reasoning models, and even advanced AI models designed for more complex business scenarios.
For businesses using Microsoft 365, understanding which model to use, and when, can help employees work faster, make better decisions, and get more value from their Copilot subscription.
What Are Copilot AI Models?
Copilot AI models determine how much time and reasoning Copilot uses before generating an answer.
Microsoft introduced model selection so users can choose between:
- Auto
- Quick Response
- Think Deeper
- GPT-5.4 Thinking
- Additional models available through Microsoft’s growing AI ecosystem, including GPT and selected third-party models in supported environments.
Rather than treating every prompt the same, Copilot can now adapt to the type of work you’re doing.
Where to Find Copilot AI Models
Finding the model selector is simple:
Step 1
Open Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Step 2
Look for the model selector near the prompt area.
Step 3
Select your preferred mode:
- Auto
- Quick Response
- Think Deeper
- GPT-5.4 Thinking (where available)
Microsoft has integrated model selection directly into Copilot Chat so users can switch modes before sending a prompt.
Model 1: Auto
Best For:
- Everyday work
- Email drafting
- Meeting summaries
- General business questions
Auto is the default setting.
Copilot automatically determines whether your prompt needs a quick answer or deeper reasoning. Most users can leave this enabled for day-to-day work.
Example Prompts:
- Summarise today’s meetings
- Draft a client update email
- Create action items from meeting notes
Model 2: Quick Response
Best For:
- Short tasks
- Simple questions
- Fast content creation
Quick Response prioritises speed. It generates answers immediately without performing extensive reasoning.
Example Prompts:
- Rewrite this email
- Create a social media caption
- Summarise this paragraph
Why Use It?
When speed matters more than deep analysis, Quick Response helps employees move faster without waiting for longer processing.
Model 3: Think Deeper
Best For:
- Strategy discussions
- Problem solving
- Business analysis
- Multi-step reasoning
Think Deeper takes additional time to reason through a task before responding. Microsoft describes it as a mode that provides more thoughtful and detailed answers for complex work.
Example Prompts:
- Compare three cybersecurity solutions for my business
- Create a 12-month IT roadmap
- Analyse the risks of migrating to the cloud
Why Use It?
For business decisions where accuracy matters more than speed, Think Deeper often provides higher-quality outputs with less back-and-forth prompting.
Model 4: GPT-5.4 Thinking
Best For:
- Technical analysis
- Deep research
- Complex reports
- Advanced business planning
Microsoft introduced GPT-5.4 Thinking in March 2026 as an advanced reasoning model for Microsoft 365 Copilot. It combines reasoning, coding capabilities, and agentic workflows to handle longer and more complex tasks.
According to Microsoft, GPT-5.4 Thinking helps Copilot:
- Reason through complex requests
- Produce higher-quality outputs
- Reduce repeated prompting
- Deliver more detailed analysis
Example Prompts:
- Analyse our cybersecurity readiness and identify risks
- Create a business case for migrating to Microsoft Azure
- Compare three IT support strategies for a growing company
The Hidden Power: Work IQ
One of the biggest advancements in Microsoft 365 Copilot isn’t just the AI model, it’s Work IQ.
Work IQ gives Copilot access to your work context, including:
- Emails
- Files
- Meetings
- Documents
- Organisational knowledge
This allows Copilot to provide responses grounded in your business data rather than generic internet information.
For example:
Instead of asking:
“What happened in our sales meeting?”
You can ask:
“What decisions were made during last week’s sales meeting and what are the next actions?”
Work IQ allows Copilot to pull information from your Microsoft 365 environment while respecting existing permissions and security controls.
Which Model Should You Use?
| Task | Recommended Model |
|---|---|
| Writing Emails | Quick Response |
| Meeting Summaries | Auto |
| Social Media Drafts | Quick Response |
| Business Reports | Think Deeper |
| IT Strategy Planning | GPT-5.4 Thinking |
| Risk Assessment | GPT-5.4 Thinking |
| Data Analysis | Think Deeper |
| General Daily Work | Auto |
Are You Using the Right Model?
The challenge isn’t the technology.
Most businesses:
- Don’t know model selection exists
- Leave everything on default settings
- Never train staff on how to use advanced modes
- Miss opportunities to improve productivity
As Microsoft continues releasing new Copilot updates, models, and capabilities, businesses that understand and adopt these features will gain a significant productivity advantage.
How Motionwave Helps
Microsoft is constantly updating Microsoft 365, Copilot, security tools, and AI capabilities.
Keeping up with every new feature, model, and productivity improvement can be challenging for busy businesses.
That’s where Motionwave comes in.
We help our clients:
✅ Stay updated on the latest Microsoft 365 and Copilot features
✅ Identify which updates are relevant to their business
✅ Configure Microsoft 365 Copilot properly
✅ Train teams to get real value from AI
✅ Improve security and governance across Microsoft 365
✅ Maximise the return on their Microsoft 365 investment
Instead of paying for features you never use, Motionwave helps ensure your business gets the most value from every Microsoft 365 subscription.
Ready to get more from Microsoft 365?
Let Motionwave simplify your technology, keep you informed about Microsoft updates, and help your team work smarter with Microsoft 365 Copilot.
