How to Use Microsoft Power BI with Copilot
Microsoft Power BI is a powerful business intelligence platform that turns raw data into rich, interactive visualizations. With the introduction of Copilot, Microsoft has infused AI into Power BI, enabling users to create reports, generate insights, and explore data using natural language.
Whether you're a data analyst, business user, or executive, Power BI with Copilot allows you to work faster and smarter — no coding required.
What Is Power BI with Copilot?
Power BI with Copilot integrates generative AI capabilities into the Power BI ecosystem. Built on Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI infrastructure, Copilot acts as a conversational assistant embedded within Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service.
Using Copilot, users can:
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Ask questions about their data in natural language
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Automatically generate DAX formulas
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Summarize key data trends
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Create reports and visuals based on AI-generated prompts
Copilot not only reduces the time required for data preparation and analysis but also makes data storytelling accessible to non-technical users.
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How to Get Started with Power BI Copilot
To start using Power BI with Copilot, follow these steps:
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Visit the official Power BI site: www.microsoft.com/powerbi
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Ensure you are using Power BI Premium or Microsoft Fabric since Copilot is available for licensed users in supported regions
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Launch Power BI Desktop or use Power BI in the Microsoft 365 web environment
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Enable Copilot through the Fabric settings or your tenant admin center
Once enabled, you’ll see a Copilot panel in your workspace, where you can begin interacting with your data using plain language.
Using Copilot in Power BI
Here are practical ways you can use Copilot inside Power BI:
Ask Data Questions
You can type questions such as:
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"What were the top 5 performing products last quarter?"
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"Show sales trends by region over the past year"
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"Summarize revenue growth compared to previous years"
Copilot interprets the request, scans your data model, and provides answers with suggested visuals.
Auto-Generate Reports
Instead of manually selecting visuals, Copilot can create full reports by analyzing your dataset and understanding your intent. For example:
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“Create a dashboard for marketing KPIs”
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“Build a report comparing revenue and expenses across departments”
Copilot uses smart visual suggestions and narrative text to build engaging dashboards quickly.
Generate or Edit DAX Formulas
Even experienced users often struggle with complex DAX syntax. Copilot helps by:
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Writing formulas for calculated columns or measures
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Explaining what each DAX expression does
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Fixing or optimizing incorrect logic
This feature improves speed and accuracy in model building.
Narrative Summaries
For dashboards and visuals, Copilot can generate text summaries to describe what’s being displayed. These summaries can be included in reports to help stakeholders understand the insights at a glance.
Key Benefits of Copilot in Power BI
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Increased productivity: Automates repetitive tasks like formatting and formula writing
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User-friendly: Non-technical users can explore data and build reports with ease
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Data democratization: Encourages more people in an organization to engage with data
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Insight acceleration: Answers business questions instantly without SQL or DAX expertise
These benefits make Power BI with Copilot especially valuable for businesses seeking to scale self-service analytics.
Use Cases Across Industries
Power BI Copilot is applicable in many industries:
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Retail: Create demand forecasts, track promotions, and analyze sales channels
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Healthcare: Visualize patient metrics, staff efficiency, and resource usage
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Finance: Monitor KPIs, perform cost analysis, and manage risk dashboards
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Education: Analyze enrollment trends and student performance
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Manufacturing: Optimize supply chains and production output
It empowers teams to focus on strategy and action, not just number crunching.
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Who Should Use Power BI with Copilot?
This platform is ideal for:
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Business analysts seeking faster data exploration
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Executives and managers needing instant insights
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Non-technical users who want easy access to reporting tools
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Data teams who want to scale insights without writing code manually
Whether you manage a team, run reports, or advise leadership, Copilot gives you a shortcut to smarter decisions.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft Power BI with Copilot redefines what’s possible in business intelligence by merging data analytics with conversational AI. It turns questions into insights and ideas into dashboards — all in seconds. For organizations focused on agility and data-driven culture, Power BI with Copilot is a practical step forward into the future of AI-powered analytics.