outlook ai tool

It sounds like you're asking about AI tools within Microsoft Outlook. Microsoft has been aggressively integrating AI (under the Microsoft Copilot brand) into the entire Office suite, including Outlook. Here is a breakdown of the specific AI tools available in Outlook, how they work, and what they cost. The Main AI Tool: Microsoft Copilot for Outlook This is the primary "AI tool" in Outlook. It's not a separate app; it's a feature integrated into the Outlook ribbon (desktop, web, and mobile). Key Features: "Summarize Email Threads" (The #1 Feature): - What it does: For long, convoluted email chains (e.g., a week-long project discussion), you can click a "Summarize by Copilot" button at the top of the email. - Result: It generates a bulleted list of the key points, decisions made, and action items. It saves you from reading through every reply. - Where to find it: The Copilot icon in the top ribbon of the message. "Draft with Copilot" (AI-Powered Writing Assistant): - What it does: When composing a new email or reply, you click the Copilot icon in the toolbar. - Options: - "Draft a new email": You give a prompt like "Write a polite email to the team asking for their status updates on Project X. Mention the deadline is Friday." Copilot will generate a complete draft. - "Reply with Copilot": It can generate a reply based on the context of the email you received. You can choose the tone (Professional, Formal, Casual) and length (Short, Medium, Long). - "Coach with Copilot": Before you click Send, you can ask Copilot to review your draft. It gives feedback on tone (e.g., "This might sound too direct"), clarity, and sentiment. This is great for sensitive emails. Catch Up & Task Management: - "Prepare for Meeting": Copilot can scan emails and documents related to an upcoming meeting in your calendar and create a summary of what you need to know. - "Catch up on...": You can ask Copilot (via the chat panel) "What happened in my inbox today while I was out?" It will list the most important emails, meeting invites, and action items. How to Access It Free Users (Outlook.com, Gmail, etc.): - You do not get the full Copilot features. - You might see a "Draft with Copilot" button, but using it consumes AI credits which are limited. The "Summarize" and "Coach" features are generally not available for free. - In Gmail/other non-Microsoft accounts, the features are often limited to basic draft assistance. Microsoft 365 Personal / Family Subscribers (10/13 per month): - You may get limited "AI credits" for drafting, but not the full Copilot experience (no Summarize, no Coach). Microsoft 365 Copilot Pro (20/month per user - add-on subscription): - This is the full experience. You get unlimited Copilot usage across Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. - This is the subscription that gives you the "Summarize Thread", "Coach", and full "Draft with Copilot" features. Enterprise (Business Standard/Premium + Copilot add-on): - Same as Pro, but with enterprise security and data compliance. Other AI Tools (Not Copilot) There are third-party AI tools that integrate with Outlook, but Copilot is the official Microsoft solution. SaneBox: An older AI tool that filters your inbox into smart folders (e.g., "Important", "Newsletters", "Low Priority"). It's not generative AI, but it uses AI to learn your priorities. Milo (AI): A third-party tool that can block promotional emails and organize your inbox. Summary: What Should You Use? Feature Best For How to Get It : : : Summarize long threads Saving time reading messy email chains Microsoft 365 Copilot Pro or Enterprise license Drafting professional emails Writer's block or fast composing Copilot Pro (best) or basic M365 subscription (limited) Coaching your tone Avoiding accidental rudeness in work emails Microsoft 365 Copilot Pro only Simple Inbox Filtering Organizing without a paid subscription Third-party tools like SaneBox or manual rules In short: If you want the "summarize" and "coach" features, you need the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on. If you just want help drafting, the basic M365 subscription may suffice.