OpenAI's latest GPT-5 model promises to be the most advanced AI assistant yet, but for the millions of workers using Microsoft Copilot for their daily routines, the reality is a bit more nuanced. Microsoft announced last week that GPT-5, OpenAI's latest ChatGPT AI model, is now integrated across its Copilot services, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, GitHub Copilot and the standalone Copilot app.
While GPT-5 does deliver some noticeable improvements in polish, detail and helpfulness, the differences feel more like a software update than an impactful revamp. For professionals weighing whether to supplement their work Copilot toolkit with ChatGPT's premium offering, the question comes down to whether or not GPT-5 is enough of a leap forward to make any difference in your work.
The update introduces "Smart Mode," a real-time routing system that directs tasks to either a fast model or a deeper reasoning variant based on each user's intent and the complexity of the request. I spent hours testing GPT-5 in Microsoft Copilot to explore what you couldn't do before but can now, and how the latest model stacks up to the regular Copilot Quick Response mode. Here's what I found.
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What you couldn't do before, but can now with GPT-5
GPT-5 is now accessible across all platforms (web, Windows, macOS, mobile), getting a truly universal rollout in Microsoft. The goal was for Microsoft platforms to benefit from "deeper reasoning" as the underlying architecture includes one model for quick responses and another for deeper "thinking" that would be used for more complex tasks, with a router selecting between them automatically.
GPT-5 has already experienced backlash since its release on Aug. 7. Users quickly complained that the new model has a less conversational, more stuffy and corporate tone than previous models, which were initially replaced by GPT-5. In response, OpenAI made older models like GPT-4o available again.
While casual users were dissatisfied with the more corporate tone, it might be useful in the workplace. GPT-5 is also integrated into GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio Code, enabling developers to handle larger-scale coding, refactoring and agentic workflows. Access is available through paid Copilot plans and can be enabled via administrative settings.
Copilot Studio users can also now select GPT-5 for their agents, using Smart Mode or opting for deeper reasoning when building automations or workflows.
"With the new Smart Mode, Copilot automatically adapts to your task and routes you to the most capable model, removing the need to switch or guess," The Copilot Team wrote. "Whether you're solving complex problems, writing creatively or turning ideas into visuals, Smart Mode delivers the smartest, most intuitive experience yet."
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How to get started with Copilot
You can follow these steps to get started with Copilot:
Open any Copilot interface (web, desktop or mobile). Choose Smart Mode in the composer. Start interacting with GPT-5. There's no extra setup required and it's free to try.
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Side-by-side comparison of three use-case experiments
To get a clear sense of how Microsoft's GPT-5 mode inside Copilot stacks up against the standard Copilot model, I spent hours running the two modes through three real-world prompts. I wanted to measure distinct skills like reading and summarizing a large block of text, creating an image and analyzing a dataset. The goal was simply to see if GPT-5 feels like a big leap forward or an incremental step -- if there's any substantial change at all.
For the first test, I played the role of a law student staring down an intimidating reading assignment. My prompt asked Copilot to read a 137-page textbook chapter and generate a study guide from it. Both models delivered summaries in the same go-to GPT format of bullet points with emojis sprinkled in. GPT-5's version was a touch longer and just slightly more thorough, but the difference wasn't dramatic. If you are a student or employee looking to summarize large chapters of text quickly, then any mode of Copilot would suffice.
The second test was pure creativity. I prompted that I am a painter looking for a reference photo that doesn't exist, and I asked the two Copilot modes to create a fantasy city at dusk, filled with dragons and a dramatic evening sky.
Here again, the results were surprisingly close. The non-GPT version of Copilot produced a decent rendering that would have helped as a reference photo, while GPT-5's output was noticeably richer and more vivid, with stronger perspective. It wasn't a radical improvement, but you could still see the upgrade in image quality.
Quick Response versus GPT-5. Screenshot by Macy Meyer/CNET
Finally, I tested the versions on data analysis, handing over figures on air travel passenger growth, airfare changes and yield shifts from Q4 2020 to Q4 2021. Both modes broke down the numbers in a useful way that would have been helpful had I been presenting my findings in a business or finance meeting.
The major difference was in presentation. GPT-5 created a "leaderboard" of the winners and laggards, making the insights pop with more clarity and readability. The standard model stuck to a straightforward design with three separate tables, more so organizing the data rather than interpreting it with key findings or providing context for the data figures.
Across all three scenarios, it became obvious that GPT-5 is a little sharper, a little more polished and a little more helpful. It produces longer and more detailed summaries, slightly richer visuals and more thoughtful data presentations. But the keyword here is "slightly." This isn't a night-and-day transformation. If you were already impressed with Copilot before, GPT-5 may feel like a welcome refinement rather than a revolution.
Can you link your ChatGPT account to Copilot?
The short answer is no. ChatGPT and Copilot remain separate platforms, and there's currently no integration allowing you to link your ChatGPT account to your Copilot account.
GPT-5 powers both ChatGPT and Copilot, but usage, user interfaces and account contexts remain siloed. For instance, the ability to change the bot's personalities introduced with the GPT-5 release is not carried over to Copilot. In ChatGPT, GPT-5 is the default model for free and paid users, with varying usage limits based on which plan you have. In Copilot, GPT-5 appears via Smart Mode in the app ecosystem, which is distinct from ChatGPT workflows.
"We continue to use the latest models from OpenAI and we are also beginning to apply our own in-house technology to the experience," a Microsoft spokesperson said. "This combination gives us more flexibility to apply the best model to each customer's interaction with Copilot."
So, if you're hoping to mix and match features -- like shopping plugins, the Code Interpreter that's available in ChatGPT Plus or a custom prompt you'd developed on one of the platforms -- that cross-platform compatibility isn't available right now.