I've created presentations with Copilot and these are the tricks that really make a difference.

Creating impactful presentations has taken a leap in quality thanks to artificial intelligence, and the greatest representative in the Microsoft ecosystem is Copilot. This tool, Integrated into PowerPoint and other Microsoft 365 applications, it is revolutionizing the way users prepare and structure their presentations, streamlining work and boosting creativity. If you've ever felt intimidated by the process of creating a presentation from scratch, or simply want to optimize your time and results, discover How making presentations with Copilot can make a difference in your academic or professional life..

In this article we tell you in an exhaustive and natural way Everything Copilot offers for creating presentations: From the basic steps to get started, through practical tips and advanced features, to a realistic overview of its limitations and alternatives. We've compiled the most relevant and comprehensive information from official sources, tutorials, and user experiences who have already experienced the benefits (and challenges) of this innovative AI assistant.

What is Copilot and how does it transform PowerPoint?

Copilot is the artificial intelligence assistant built into Microsoft 365, especially useful in PowerPoint to automate and optimize presentation creation. It uses artificial intelligence models to understand your instructions, generate relevant content, structure topics, suggest images, and even help you present ideas more clearly and compellingly.

The great advantage of Copilot is its ability to save time and effort, allowing users to focus on the creative and strategic aspects of the presentation. According to internal Microsoft studies, Copilot can save up to 30 minutes per user per day, improving both the productivity and well-being of those who have access to this feature.

But Copilot is much more than an automatic slide generation tool: It also helps you organize information, maintain visual coherence, synthesize content, and adapt to different audiences. Its features range from complete presentation writing from instructions, document generation based on Word or Excel documents, and the addition of custom templates, to the ability to review and summarize previously prepared presentations.

How to start a presentation with Copilot: Getting started

Getting started is simple: After activating Copilot (requires Pro subscription in most cases), it is now available in the PowerPoint ribbon, both online and desktop versions. To get started, simply Open a new presentation and click the Copilot buttonFrom there, you can choose to create a presentation from scratch or from an existing document.

The basic process for a new submission is as follows:

• Open PowerPoint and select Copilot on the top bar.
• Choose “Create a presentation” and briefly describe the topic or objectives. Copilot accepts messages of up to 2000 characters, so it's important to be concise but include relevant details.
• Wait a few seconds for Copilot to process the information and generate the presentation structure.
• Review the suggested topics and modify them if necessary. You can edit, add, or delete sections to refine your focus.
• When everything is to your liking, Click “Generate Slides” and Copilot will prepare the presentation for you.

This process allows you to start a solid presentation in a matter of minutes, with a logical structure and integrated visual elements.

Create presentations from documents: Word and more

One of the most powerful features of Copilot is the ability to generate presentations directly from a Word, Excel document, or even a note in OneNote. This is ideal for transforming pre-made reports, articles, or diagrams into high-quality visual presentations without having to manually copy and paste the information.

How is it done?

1. Prepare your source document: If you're working with Word, use heading and section styles to help Copilot understand your structure and divide your content into topic-based sections.
2. Include relevant images in the document: Copilot is able to automatically incorporate images it finds into the text, enriching the final result.
3. Open PowerPoint and select Copilot; then choose the option “Create presentation from file”.
4. Select the desired document and let Copilot do the rest. A draft will be generated with slides, images, and speaker notes if needed.

This functionality is especially useful for organizations that manage corporate workforces, as Copilot can easily adapt to the predefined design and style. This ensures brand consistency and saves significant time during the layout phase.

Highlighted features: automation, customization, and time savings

Copilot not only creates presentations quickly, but offers a set of advanced features so that the result is always professional and customizable. Among the most notable functions are:

• Automatic structuring of the presentation by topics and sections: Copilot breaks down content into macro-topics and generates slides aligned with each one, making it easier to maintain a coherent discourse.
• Insertion of relevant images: The wizard suggests images that fit the content of each slide. You can update the images with a new request if you see fit.
• Notes for the presenter: Copilot adds suggestions and key points for the speaker, making it easier to present your oral presentation to the audience.
• Design customization: You can change fonts, color schemes, and adapt the structure to corporate templates, while maintaining the visual identity of your company or project.
• Generating presentations in multiple languages: The AI ​​respects the language of the original document, but you can also ask it to adapt the content to another language if needed.

These tools make Copilot much more than a simple slideshow generator, allowing for results tailored to each need.

Preparing an outline and giving it context: tips for better results

Although Copilot is very powerful, To get the most out of it, it is important to know how to write the instructions and prepare the outline in advance. A good prompt (message to the AI) should include, whenever possible:

• The profile or role you want the AI ​​to adopt. For example: “As a marketing expert, create a 20-minute presentation on social media for small businesses.”
• The audience to whom the presentation is addressed: This way, AI can adapt the language and examples.
• Sections or topics to cover: If you need to address specific points (history, practical applications, trends), please indicate this clearly.
• Extension and objective of the presentation: Preparing a quick 10-minute talk is not the same as preparing a detailed one-hour training session.

Giving detailed instructions can make the difference between a superficial outline or a truly useful presentation.

Once you have a draft generated by Copilot, it's a good idea to review it, add or delete information, and adapt the tone to the context. Remember that manual review is key to ensuring accuracy and audience relevance.

Editing, reviewing and final customization

Once Copilot generates the presentation, your intervention remains essential. Don't just stick to the draft, take the time to review each slide:

• Edit textual content to enhance style, clarity, and tone. Tailor your ideas to your speech and make sure the information is accurate.
• Rearrange slides, add or delete as needed.
• Change images or graphics if you feel it's necessary. Just right-click on the image and select the change option.
• Adapt the visual design: fonts, colors, logos and templates. In addition to the automatic feature, you can use your organization's custom templates to maintain brand consistency throughout your presentation.

Remember to save your work frequently (preferably to OneDrive for automatic backup) and ask Copilot for help if you need to clarify concepts or look up additional examples.

Limitations and Important Considerations

Although Copilot is a powerful tool, it is not without limitations. Some aspects you should keep in mind:

• Only available with Pro subscription: To access Copilot in PowerPoint, you need a Copilot Pro subscription, which incurs an additional monthly fee.
• Variable quality in the generated slides: Sometimes AI can produce slides that are too generic, with images that aren't always relevant or poorly adapted to the context. For example, it can confuse terms (such as "court" for sports instead of "courts") or insert videos or elements that aren't very useful.
• Limited capabilities to modify already created content: Copilot can't always thoroughly edit generated slides or modify complex graphics. In those cases, customization is up to the user.
• Processing Times: If the base document is very long or complex, creating it may be slower and require simplifying the source file.
• Mandatory review: AI-generated information, images, and suggestions should always be reviewed by a human to avoid errors or inaccuracies.

Every project has its own unique characteristics, so experiment and feel free to customize everything you need to suit your needs.

Helpful tips to get the most out of Copilot

To make your presentation creation experience with Copilot a success, here are some tips: some practical recommendations:

• Always specify the context of your presentation: audience, objective, duration and format.
• Use well-structured documents if you start from Word or Excel files: The styles and sections make AI easier to understand.
• Always review and customize the result: Don't settle for the first draft; add your personal touch and check for accuracy.
• Take advantage of integration with the Microsoft 365 environment: combines Copilot with OneNote for outlines, Word for basic texts and OneDrive for security and accessibility.
• Feel free to ask for new images, examples, or adjustments: AI learns from your input and can refine results with every interaction.

So now you know how to make presentations with Copilot in the easiest and most productive way. Remember, you shouldn't be afraid of the tool. Test and practice until you find the result you wanted.

Related article:

What is Copilot and what is it for? Find out how it boosts your productivity and code

Alberto navarro

I am a technology enthusiast who has turned his "geek" interests into a profession. I have spent more than 10 years of my life using cutting-edge technology and tinkering with all kinds of programs out of pure curiosity. Now I have specialized in computer technology and video games. This is because for more than 5 years I have been writing for various websites on technology and video games, creating articles that seek to give you the information you need in a language that is understandable to everyone.

If you have any questions, my knowledge ranges from everything related to the Windows operating system as well as Android for mobile phones. And my commitment is to you, I am always willing to spend a few minutes and help you resolve any questions you may have in this internet world.