4.3 – Getting Started with Microsoft Copilot Lesson

Lesson Overview

This lesson introduces you to the process of using Microsoft Copilot (within Bing) as an accessible, web-based starting point for image idea generation with DALL·E 3. By signing in with a Microsoft account, Copilot becomes an interactive tool for brainstorming image concepts—even if you aren’t sure what you want at first. Copilot’s chat-based interface is similar to platforms like ChatGPT, but it adds the convenience of web search and Bing’s browsing features. Using Copilot, you can ask for image prompt ideas based on a general subject and then refine those prompts by adding more details or focusing on particular themes, such as animals that live in the desert for a class project.

This step is important in both creative and academic contexts, where coming up with visual ideas or collecting possible starting points is often a challenge. Whether you’re preparing materials for a presentation, looking for inspiration for an art project, or gathering content for an educational report, Copilot’s ability to generate and adjust prompt ideas will help you shape better requests before any images are generated. This lesson is especially useful for anyone who wants to streamline the beginning of the creative process when working with AI image generators.

Who This Is For

If you want a quick, accessible way to brainstorm and craft prompt ideas for AI image generation, this lesson is designed for you.

• Educators preparing visual teaching resources
• Students researching and illustrating class projects
• Content creators seeking new inspiration or concepts
• Marketers collecting visual ideas for campaigns
• Business professionals assembling presentations or reports
• Anyone interested in experimenting with AI-generated imagery without a steep learning curve

Where This Fits in a Workflow

Generating effective image prompts is a key early step in any project involving AI image creation. In most projects, the process starts with idea development before making final visuals.

For example, a teacher creating handouts first collects prompt ideas for animal images, narrowing the focus to fit the lesson’s topic, like desert habitats. Or a marketer preparing a campaign starts by brainstorming possible angles, then refines prompts to match the campaign’s audience or product theme. This lesson supports the critical brainstorming phase, ensuring your prompt ideas are focused and relevant before moving into image generation. It simplifies collaboration, helps clarify your goals, and prepares you for efficient use of AI tools in the following steps.

Technical & Workflow Benefits

Using Microsoft Copilot’s DALL·E 3 integration offers a quicker and less manual way to develop and collect prompt ideas when compared to brainstorming on your own or researching examples from scratch. Traditionally, you might spend time searching for prompt lists online or experimenting blindly with image generators. Instead, Copilot acts as a conversational partner: you can request thematic lists, iterate by asking for refinements, and keep prompts tailored to your needs without producing unnecessary images.

For educators or content creators, this means faster preparation and less guesswork, as Copilot can suggest prompts based on current web results and common themes. For business projects, focused suggestions help you stay on message and avoid irrelevant results. The accessible chat interface encourages trial and error, making it easier to zero in on what you need and move on to image creation with greater confidence.

Practice Exercise

Try using Microsoft Copilot to brainstorm prompt ideas for your own project:

1. Go to Bing.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and access the Copilot feature.
2. In the chat box, describe your creative goal (e.g., “I am designing a poster about renewable energy. Without generating any images, give me 5 prompt ideas related to green technology themes.”)
3. After Copilot responds, further refine your request based on your project (e.g., “Now focus just on solar energy and provide 5 more prompt ideas.”)

Reflect: How does using Copilot’s suggestions compare to coming up with prompt ideas on your own or searching online for inspiration? Did Copilot provide ideas you wouldn’t have considered?

Course Context Recap

This lesson advances your skills with DALL·E 3 by showing how to use Microsoft Copilot for systematic prompt brainstorming. Previously, you learned to access Copilot and navigate its main features. In upcoming lessons, you’ll use the prompt ideas you’ve developed here to actually generate and edit images, moving from planning to creation. Keep exploring the course to deepen your use of generative AI and become more confident in integrating these tools into your creative workflow.