The Copilot Connection

Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell
  • 5.0 (2)
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to Copilot Connection, the podcast that explores the world of Microsoft Copilots! Join your hosts, Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell, as they take you on a journey through the different Copilots available and how they can help you in your day-to-day life. From the newly launch date announced Microsoft 365 Copilot to the Dynamics 365, GitHub, Windows, Custom and more Copilots, we'll cover it all. Our upbeat and engaging conversations with experts in the field will keep you entertained and informed. Tune in to Copilot Connection and discover how these AI-powered assistants can transform the way you work!Want to be interviewed for the show? Sign up at The Copilot Connection: Call for Speakers @ Sessionize.com

  1. Ep 32 - catching up on news after a busy summer

    SEP 19

    Ep 32 - catching up on news after a busy summer

    Send us a text It has been a little while since the last episode with Zoe and Kevin so they share some of their own news on why things have been a little quieter over the summer and then discuss the latest updates and news from Microsoft 365 Copilot. We recap recent events, including the Collab Summit North America, Experts Live UK conference, and share our upcoming events.  On the news side we delve into significant announcements from lasast couple of months, including the introduction of the Knowledge Agent to "Frontier Firms", licensing changes, and the implications of GPT-5. Plus, Zoe pulls off some awesome dance moves without even realising it. AI powered Takeaways The Knowledge Agent aims to enhance knowledge management within organizations.Licensing changes are designed to encourage broader adoption of Copilot features.AI's role in the workplace is becoming increasingly significant.Organizations must address foundational knowledge management issues to leverage AI effectively.The conversation highlights the need for ongoing discussions about AI's impact on work and society.Useful links Agents Introducing Knowledge Agent in SharePoint | Microsoft Community Hubhttps://demos.microsoft.com/microsoft/play/5140/knowledge-agents#/0/0 Microsoft 365 Copilot: Enabling human-agent teams | Microsoft 365 BlogMoving sales, service, and finance to the Frontier with Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 BlogLicensing https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/billing-licensingGPT 5 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/08/07/available-today-gpt-5-in-microsoft-365-copilot/Copilot Chat in Office Apps https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/copilot-chat-comes-to-the-microsoft-365-apps/4453349Viva Engage in Copilot  Viva Engage Public Content is Now Available in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft Community HubCopilot Mode in Edge https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/2025/08/07/release-notes-august-7-2025/Deal with US Government Accelerating AI adoption for the US government - The Official Microsoft BlogCopilot Memory https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-copilot-memory-a-more-productive-and-personalized-ai-

    56 min
  2. CCDev 2 - what you need to think about with MCP

    JUL 29

    CCDev 2 - what you need to think about with MCP

    Send us a text Kevin McDonnell and Garry Trinder delve into the world of Model Context Protocol (MCP) and its implications for developers. We start with a starter overview of functionality of MCP and why it is important. However, we wanted to get beyond that initial view that is covered elsewhere and look at some of the challenges associated with using MCP and broader considerations that you need to be looking at. The conversation covers the importance of optimizing documentation for language models, governance in MCP usage, and strategies for getting started with MCP and then scaling.  Takeaways MCP is a universal approach to context in AI.MCP servers can execute actions beyond API calls.Optimizing documentation for LLMs is essential for effective AI integration.Trust and governance are critical in using MCP servers.MCP can significantly enhance productivity in software development.Building an MCP server can be straightforward and quick.MCP allows for local execution of actions, enhancing flexibility.The future of MCP involves more robust governance and control mechanisms.Organizations should develop a strategy for managing MCP servers.Experimentation with MCP can lead to unexpected benefits and insights.Useful links Introduction - Model Context Protocol Getting started with Local MCP Servers on Claude Desktop | Anthropic Help Center and For Claude Desktop Users – Model Context Protocol （MCP） Use MCP servers in VS Code   Community built Graph MCP Server - GitHub - merill/lokka: MCP (Model Context Protocol) for Microsoft 365.   Azure AI Search: Full text search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn Vector search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn Hybrid search - Azure AI Search | Microsoft Learn MCP for beginners course - GitHub - microsoft/mcp-for-beginners MCP Dev Days 29th/30th July (and available on demand after) - MCP Dev Days | Microsoft Reactor Microsoft MCP Lab - GitHub - microsoft/mcsmcp: Lab for creating an MCP Server and using it in Microsoft Copilot Studio. Microsoft's MCP Server collection - GitHub - microsoft/mcp: Catalog of official Microsoft MCP (Model Context Protocol) server implementations for AI-powered data access and tool integration CLI for m365 MCP server - GitHub - pnp/cli-microsoft365-mcp-server: Manage Microsoft 365 using MCP server GitHub - dotnet/dev-proxy: Simulate API failures, throttling, and chaos — all from your command line.

    1h 9m
  3. CCDev 1 - Navigating Copilot extensibility

    JUN 20

    CCDev 1 - Navigating Copilot extensibility

    Send us a text Welcome to a brand new way of hearing about the latest Copilot extensibility news! In this episode of the Copilot Connection, Kevin swaps out Zoe for Garry Trinder in the first of a spin-off of episodes where we dig deeper into the extensibility side of Copilot. In this first episode, we go into an overview of the options that you have for extending Copilot. We talk cover why you would need to extend Copilot, the different ways you can do that (whether by end user, maker or specialist) and touch a little on how you can actually get started with doing it. Is there a specific topic that you'd like to see us cover? Let us know! Takeaways Extensibility in Copilot allows developers to create tailored solutions.Understanding AI maturity is crucial for effective implementation.Personalization of AI tools enhances user experience and productivity.Scoping and context are essential for effective use of Copilot.Integrating external knowledge sources can enhance AI capabilities.Balancing deterministic and non-deterministic approaches is key in AI applications.Declarative agents simplify the process of building AI solutions.Responsible AI practices are necessary when developing custom solutions.Continuous learning and adaptation are vital in the evolving AI landscape.Related links Copilot extensibility learning pathsCopilot camp - no actual camping requiredCommunity samplesPro dev community samples

    46 min
  4. Ep 31 - Copilot at conferences

    JUN 7

    Ep 31 - Copilot at conferences

    Send us a text With the post Build lull in Microsoft news, Zoe and Kevin decided to take a look at some of the upcoming conferences and recommend a few sessions that stood out in the Copilot and agents space. Firstly though, we couldn't resist talking a bit about the collapse of Builder.ai and the re-org of some of the Engineering management teams at Microsoft. We also covered our next Copilot Fireside Chat where Daniel Laskewitz will be joining us to answer your questions on Copilot Studio, MCP and whatever else takes your fancy. News: Microsoft-backed AI startup chatbots revealed to be human employees | MashableMicrosoft’s LinkedIn chief is now running Office as part of an AI reorg | The VergeConferences covered: European Power Platform Conference | Austria | Jun 16-19, 2025Commsverse 2025 - The Microsoft Teams Conference - Jun 18-19 2025Tech Con 365 Seattle - June 23-27 2025Collab Summit North America - Sep 7-9 2025ESPC25 | Conference | Ireland | Dec 1-4, 2025Other ones we mentioned: Collab Days Netherlands - June 21 2025CollabDays Hamburg 2025 - June 28 2025CollabDays Finland 2025 - 11 Sep 2025Experts Live UK 2025 - 16 Sep 2025CollabDays Bletchley Park 2025 - 24 Sep 2025South Coast Summit - 17-18 Sep 2025Check out other conferences at Community Days. Takeaways Investors need to scrutinize AI startups more closely.The importance of responsible AI practices is paramount.Microsoft's leadership changes signal a new direction.AI's impact on employment is a growing concern.Community conferences are vital for networking and learning.AI literacy is essential for effective use of technology.Clothespilot demonstrates practical AI applications.Engaging with the community enhances knowledge sharing.Fireside chats provide valuable insights from industry experts.

    1h 6m
  5. Ep 30 - building on the Build news

    MAY 25

    Ep 30 - building on the Build news

    Send us a text In this episode of Copilot Connection, hosts Zoe and Kevin discuss the latest updates and insights from the Microsoft Copilot ecosystem from Build as well as a slight detour to the Chelsea Flower Show. We cover topics like M365 Copilot tuning, notebooks, researcher and analyst agents, and SRE agents. We also explore the implications of AI Foundry and the natural language web, while wrapping up with a look at upcoming events and the importance of community engagement. Takeaways The Chelsea Flower Show showcased innovative AI applications in gardening.M365 Copilot tuning can transform industries like legal with tailored solutions.Notebooks in Copilot provide a flexible way to organize and query content.Researcher and Analyst agents enhance data analysis and decision-making processes.AI Foundry allows for local model integration, expanding AI capabilities.SRE agents automate software reliability tasks, improving efficiency.Natural language web features enable more intuitive website interactions.Community-driven initiatives are crucial for the development of AI tools.Microsoft's Build conference highlighted significant advancements in AI technology.The importance of ethical considerations in AI deployment is paramount.Links Avanade Intelligent Garden  Book of News - https://news.microsoft.com/build-2025-book-of-news/ Copilot Tuning Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot APIs Announcing Microsoft Entra Agent ID: Secure and manage your AI agents | Microsoft Community Hub microsoft/AI-Red-Teaming-Playground-Labs: AI Red Teaming playground labs to run AI Red Teaming trainings including infrastructure. NL Web Introducing NLWeb: Bringing conversational interfaces directly to the web - Source and Debugging GenAI with CAPs + NLWeb + OpenTelemetry: A Real-Time Visibility Unlock | LinkedIn Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot APIs Reddit post on SRE agent being used in the dotnet repo My new hobby: watching AI slowly drive Microsoft employees insane : r/ExperiencedDevs Power Apps Studio with Agent Feed Reimagining human-agent collaboration for a new era of app development with Microsoft Power Apps - Microsoft Power Platform Blog Walkthrough of agent feed in Power Apps - users and ma

    1h 4m
  6. Ep 29 - Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release

    APR 26

    Ep 29 - Copilot Wave 2 Spring Release

    Send us a text News, 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. Takeaways Wave 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."

    52 min
  7. Ep 28 - Copilot and AI in Healthcare with Gary Raife

    APR 11

    Ep 28 - Copilot and AI in Healthcare with Gary Raife

    Send us a text In 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. Takeaways Healthcare 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 links Gary's blogNews Introducing 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 related Meet Microsoft Dragon Copilot: Your new AI assistant for clinical workflow - Microsoft Industry BlogsMicrosoft Cloud for Healthcare | Microsoft

    1h 1m
  8. Ep 27 - Being responsible with Chris Huntingford

    MAR 10

    Ep 27 - Being responsible with Chris Huntingford

    Send us a text How 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.

    56 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Copilot Connection, the podcast that explores the world of Microsoft Copilots! Join your hosts, Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell, as they take you on a journey through the different Copilots available and how they can help you in your day-to-day life. From the newly launch date announced Microsoft 365 Copilot to the Dynamics 365, GitHub, Windows, Custom and more Copilots, we'll cover it all. Our upbeat and engaging conversations with experts in the field will keep you entertained and informed. Tune in to Copilot Connection and discover how these AI-powered assistants can transform the way you work!Want to be interviewed for the show? Sign up at The Copilot Connection: Call for Speakers @ Sessionize.com

Information

  • Creator
    Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Copilot Connection
  • Show Website
    The Copilot Connection

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