Microsoft 365 Copilot Model Picker: GPT or Claude?

You open Copilot Chat for a quick question and spot a new dropdown menu at the top: Automatic, a GPT model, a model from Anthropic. You are not quite sure what is behind it and would rather leave everything on the default setting, afraid of doing something wrong. You are not alone there, because since summer 2026 the model picker has been popping up for many people for the first time in Copilot Chat, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. There is more to it than a gimmick. For a quick daily email the default setting is entirely enough, for a complex data analysis or a long contract a deliberately chosen model often gives you noticeably better results. And with client data, a second look is worth it before you switch. I will show you where to find the picker, when switching pays off and what Swiss organisations should watch out for with their data.

Step 1: Find the model picker in Copilot Chat

Copilot Chat is the easiest place to try out the new model picker. You can reach it directly at m365.cloud.microsoft/chat or through the tile in microsoft365.com, you do not need a separate app installation.

Here is how to find the model picker:

1. Open Copilot Chat and sign in with your work account.
2. Look near the top of the input box for a small dropdown next to the send icon, it usually shows «Automatic» or the name of the model you picked last.
3. Click it and choose a model from the list. At the moment you get Microsoft's own model, at least one GPT model from OpenAI and one model from Anthropic.
4. Your choice applies to the current conversation straight away, you can pick again at any time for a new chat.

Which models actually show up depends on your tenant and the rollout stage. Microsoft is rolling the picker out in phases, so you might see fewer options today than a colleague at another organisation. 🔍

Step 2: Choose a model in Word, Excel and PowerPoint too

The model picker is not limited to Copilot Chat. You can now control which model works in the background directly inside the apps as well.

Here is how to do it in the apps:

1. Open Word, excel.cloud.microsoft or PowerPoint and launch the Copilot pane from the icon on the ribbon.
2. In the Copilot pane, look for a small model icon or model name, usually at the bottom of the chat history.
3. Use it to select the model you want for this particular task.

Handy detail: the choice only applies to the current task in that app, so it does not change your setting in Copilot Chat. In Excel, for example, you can pick a different model for a tricky formula without touching your default in Chat.

Step 3: When Automatic is the best choice

For most everyday tasks you do not need to switch at all. Leave Copilot on Automatic (Auto) for tasks like these:

1. Drafting or rephrasing a short email.
2. Asking a single question about a document you already have open.
3. Getting a quick summary of a meeting.
4. Producing a first draft that you are going to rework yourself anyway.

In Automatic mode, Microsoft continuously picks the model that best fits each request, usually a fast and resource-light one. For you that means less waiting time and, as a rule, a perfectly good result. A deliberate switch only pays off once the task gets more complex, more on that in Step 4.

Step 4: When a deliberate model switch pays off

For more demanding tasks, deliberately picking a more capable model often pays off. Typical cases from my consulting practice:

1. A long tender document or a multi-page contract needs a structured summary.
2. Several Excel spreadsheets full of figures need to be compared and any anomalies explained.
3. A complex concept or strategy needs to be thought through step by step.
4. A text needs a very precise, consistent tone across several pages.

In cases like these, feel free to try two models with the same request and compare the results. That costs you two minutes and quickly shows you which model works better for this kind of task in your case. Over time you will develop a feel for which model suits which task, without needing any technical background at all. 💡

Step 5: Check data and privacy before using third-party models

Before you regularly use a model from a provider other than Microsoft, it is worth taking a look at the data. In principle, every request stays within the compliance and security framework of Microsoft 365, regardless of which model you choose. With third-party models such as Anthropic's, though, the actual processing can happen outside the EU or Switzerland, currently partly in the United States.

For your organisation that means:

1. Feel free to use any available model for internal notes, research and draft text without personal data.
2. For client data, HR records or contracts with third-party clauses, stick with Microsoft's default model until you know exactly how the data flows.
3. If in doubt, have a quick word with your IT team or admin about whether your organisation has already reviewed and approved third-party models for sensitive data.

This assessment may change with future updates, so a quick check before your next big analysis never hurts.

Step 6: Manage models for your team (for admins)

If you are responsible for M365 in your organisation, you can manage the model picker centrally instead of leaving it to each person individually.

Here is how to do it as an admin:

1. Open the Microsoft 365 admin center and go to the Copilot settings.
2. Turn individual model providers on or off for the whole organisation there, for example if you want to rule out third-party models altogether.
3. Let your team know about the decision briefly, so nobody misses a disabled model or wonders about a missing option.

This step is particularly worthwhile in smaller organisations without their own IT department, because it settles the «which model for which data» question once for everyone, instead of leaving it to every single employee.

My practical tip from consulting

Write down a simple one-line rule of thumb for your team, for example in your internal wiki: «Automatic for everything routine, a deliberate model switch only for long or complex tasks without client data.» This one rule prevents most of the day-to-day uncertainty and saves you from explaining which model makes sense every single week. Update the rule whenever new models arrive or your IT team sets new guidelines. 📌

Conclusion & CTA

The model picker in Copilot is not a detail for tech enthusiasts, it is a genuine tool for better everyday results. Automatic is entirely enough for most tasks, a deliberate switch pays off for complex analysis and a quick look at the data flows pays off for sensitive information. Open Copilot Chat today, take a proper look at the dropdown menu and try it out on a real task. Give it a go now.