2.2.2. Web Grounding and App-Specific Context
Beyond files, Copilot can also draw on web data and on the specific context of the app you are using.
Web grounding uses Bing integration to pull in current information from the internet. This is valuable for:
- Current events or news that post-date the model's training
- External market data, competitor information, or industry trends
- Verifying facts against publicly available sources
When Copilot uses web grounding, it will typically show citations so you can verify the source.
App-specific context is subtler but important. When you use Copilot inside a specific Microsoft 365 app, that app's current content becomes implicit context:
| App | Implicit Context Available |
|---|---|
| Outlook | Current email thread, selected emails, calendar |
| Teams | Current conversation, meeting transcript (if in a meeting) |
| Word | The document currently open |
| Excel | The spreadsheet and selected data |
| PowerPoint | Current presentation structure and content |
This is why "Copilot in Outlook" can draft a reply that references your email thread without you explicitly attaching anything — it reads the open conversation as implicit context.
⚠️ Exam Trap: App-specific context only works within that app's Copilot experience. If you open Copilot Chat (the standalone experience), it does not automatically inherit context from whatever app you had open. You would need to explicitly provide that context.
Reflection Question: A user is in a Teams meeting and wants Copilot to summarize what has been discussed so far. Which Copilot experience gives them this capability without any additional steps?
