Copilot in Word Adds Source Citations, Answers Can Be Verified
Microsoft has added source citations to Copilot in Word. For specific answers, users can now see what underlying materials the artificial intelligence used and verify them. The company summarized this in a blog post outlining new features across Microsoft 365 services.
Word now has the ability to display sources for Copilot's answers. Users simply need to click on a citation to access the material from which the answer was generated and confirm the statement. Citations point to both web content and work materials and are part of the answer itself.
Copilot in Word source citations: what it means in practice
According to Microsoft, this is a step toward greater transparency. "Citations in Copilot responses in Word allow users to see the sources that Copilot's answers are based on. Users can view citations to relevant web content and work materials directly within the response," the company stated. "This brings greater transparency and helps users understand where Copilot's information comes from."
Microsoft 365 updates at a glance
Citations in Word are just one of the items Microsoft listed in the post. According to the company, changes include:
- a new look and features for Copilot Chat,
- plugins, connectors, and Work IQ improvements in Copilot,
- the Teams Phone agent for Copilot in Teams Phone,
- citations and image editing for Copilot in Word,
- skills and connectors for Copilot in PowerPoint,
- general availability of Copilot in SharePoint,
- general availability of Copilot in OneDrive.
When the feature reaches users
The rollout of citations is not universal. According to the website windowsforum.com, it depends on licenses, tenant policies, app versions, and platforms.