What is BYOAI: A smarter way to use Copilot for work

What is BYOAI?

BYOAI (bring your own AI) refers to using an AI tool you personally subscribe to for work-related tasks.

Secure BYOAI with Microsoft 365 lets you use Copilot features from your Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium subscription at work — even if your work account doesn’t include a Copilot license.

When you use Microsoft 365 Copilot at work with BYOAI:

• Copilot features from your personal plan can be used on work files within Microsoft 365 apps
• All Copilot interactions on work files are processed inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem
• Your data is protected by encryption, privacy safeguards, and compliance certifications

This makes Microsoft 365 a more structured and secure option than using random AI tools outside your workplace ecosystem.

What BYOAI means for how you work

Secure BYOAI with Microsoft 365 offers a safer alternative to other bring-your-own-AI scenarios that may put company data at risk and land you in trouble for noncompliance. Instead of switching between personal AI tools and work apps or using tools your employer can’t see or manage, Microsoft’s Secure BYOAI lets you:

• Bring Copilot to work using tools you already know
• Stay compliant with your organization’s security and data policies
• Use AI directly inside the Microsoft 365 apps you already rely on

In short, Secure BYOAI empowers you to work smarter without working around IT.

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How Secure BYOAI works in Microsoft 365

Secure BYOAI works through multi-account access in Microsoft 365 desktop apps.

Here’s how it works in practice:

1. Your employer must have an enterprise subscription that provides access to Microsoft 365 desktop apps and has multi-account access enabled
2. You sign into apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook with both:
• Your work account
• Your personal Microsoft 365 account
3. Once signed in, Copilot features from your Personal, Family, or Premium plan show up directly within Microsoft 365 apps
4. All your company’s security and compliance rules stay on, because your work content never leaves the corporate environment.
5. Your data is never used to train AI models, and IT can monitor or turn off features if needed.

This means you can use AI where you’re already working, without copying content between tools.

Important limitations to know

BYOAI is powerful, but it’s also designed to protect both employees and organizations.

Here’s what it does and doesn’t include:

• BYOAI applies only to AI features in supported Microsoft 365 apps.
• It does not apply to Copilot chat or features that are only available through chat experiences.
• Copilot can only work with content your work identity already has permission to access.
• AI responses are bound by your organization’s data access rules and permissions.

This ensures Copilot can’t see or use information you wouldn’t normally be allowed to access.

Practical ways to use Secure BYOAI at work

Once enabled, BYOAI can help with many common work scenarios:

• Writing and editing: Draft reports, rewrite content, or summarize long documents in Word.
• Data analysis: Get help understanding trends or organizing spreadsheets in Excel.
• Presentations: Turn outlines into clear, polished slides in PowerPoint.
• Email management: Summarize long threads or draft replies in Outlook.

Because these features work directly inside your files in Microsoft 365 apps, Secure BYOAI helps reduce busywork and context switching.

Who BYOAI is for

Secure BYOAI is especially helpful for:

• Employees whose work account doesn’t include a Copilot license
• Professionals who already use AI personally and want to bring that efficiency to work
• Side hustlers or independent contributors working with larger organizations
• Anyone looking to improve productivity without breaking workplace rules

How to bring your own AI to work with Microsoft 365 Copilot

To use Secure BYOAI at work with Microsoft 365 Copilot:

1. Have a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium subscription¹
2. Sign into supported Microsoft 365 apps with both your work and personal accounts
3. Use Copilot features directly in your work documents in Microsoft 365 apps where available

Your organization’s policies always apply, and access can be adjusted by IT as needed.

Work smarter with BYOAI

BYOAI reflects how people work today, using the best tools available to stay productive and competitive. Microsoft 365 makes it possible to bring AI to work securely, responsibly, and transparently.

With Copilot in Microsoft 365, you don’t have to choose between productivity and compliance.¹ You can have both and focus on doing your best work. Try Microsoft 365 today and bring your own AI to work.

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