Rick Boers vs Microsoft Copilot
Explore what we can build. Examples describe possible workflows; integrations, hosting, and scope are agreed for your project.
Microsoft Copilot is the AI assistant woven through Windows, Edge, and the Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams), spanning a free consumer chat app and paid business seats grounded in your work data. In 2026 it became genuinely multi-model — OpenAI's GPT-5.6 became the preferred model in July 2026, with Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 5 and Opus 4.8 selectable — and added agentic capabilities: Copilot Cowork for long-running multi-step work tasks (GA June 2026), consumer Copilot Tasks in preview, and Microsoft Scout, an "always-on" Autopilot agent still in private preview. It is an assistant embedded in Microsoft's software rather than a standalone AI worker with its own persistent machine.
Rick Boers is an independent AI product builder. I design and build custom agents, document workflows, internal tools, and complete web and mobile applications, with one person owning the work from brief to delivery.
At a glance
| Comparison dimension | Rick Boers | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Always-on computer | Hosting and runtime architecture are chosen for your project; dedicated VMs are one option. | No - Copilot is an assistant inside Microsoft's apps; Cowork runs as managed cloud tasks and Copilot Tasks uses a temporary cloud computer and browser per run, but nothing persists between tasks, and the always-on Scout agent is private-preview only - no dedicated VM, disk, or browser per user. |
| Tool integrations | I build integrations around the tools your workflow needs. Access, permissions, API availability, and any service subscriptions are checked and scoped before implementation. | Deep across Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint) via Microsoft Graph/Work IQ; consumer connectors for Gmail, Google Drive/Calendar/Contacts, Outlook, and OneDrive are search-and-retrieval only; broader third-party reach requires building agents in Copilot Studio. |
| Messaging channels | Messaging or web interfaces are implemented where supported and included in the agreed scope. | Microsoft's own surfaces only: web, Windows, macOS, iOS/Android apps, Edge, and Teams/Outlook at work; it left WhatsApp and all third-party messaging apps on January 15, 2026, and has no iMessage/SMS presence. |
| Persistent memory | Storage and memory can be designed for the workflow, with retention and access controls agreed first. | Yes - Copilot Memory remembers preferences and recurring topics across web, mobile, and Windows with user opt-out controls; enterprise memory grounded in Work IQ is rolling out across Office apps (Enhanced Memory slated for GA late 2026); per-agent memory in Copilot Studio is in preview. |
| Background automations | Scheduled and background jobs can be included with monitoring, limits, and human review where needed. | Scheduled prompts in Microsoft 365 Copilot (GA early 2026, Agent Builder scheduled workflows added May 2026), consumer Copilot Tasks in preview (one-off or scheduled, user-initiated), Cowork long-running multi-step tasks for licensed business users, and always-on Autopilot agents (Scout) in private preview. |
| Pricing | The first 20-minute fit call is free. Paid work is scoped individually. We agree the deliverables, price, and payment milestones before work begins; hosting and model costs depend on the system we build. | Check the provider’s current pricing and plan limits. |
Where Microsoft Copilot shines
- Unmatched depth inside Office: Copilot drafts, edits, and analyzes directly in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, grounded in your organization's emails, files, and meetings via Microsoft Graph and Work IQ.
- Real multi-model choice as of 2026: GPT-5.6 became the preferred model in July 2026, Claude Sonnet 5 and Claude Opus 4.8 are selectable, and Cowork's picker adds a Sonnet + Opus Advisor paired mode where Sonnet handles the task and Opus reviews the result.
- Enterprise-grade governance: agents get their own Entra identities, admins set tenant/group/user spending caps on agentic work, and everything runs inside Microsoft's security and compliance framework.
- Very cheap baseline AI: a capable free tier, Copilot bundled into $9.99/month Microsoft 365 Personal, and free Copilot Chat for eligible business Microsoft 365 customers.
- Strong agentic momentum: Copilot Cowork went GA worldwide on June 16, 2026, computer-using agents hit GA in Copilot Studio in May 2026, and consumer Copilot Tasks (preview) can browse the web, generate files, and run on schedules.
Where it falls short
- No persistent computer per user or agent: Cowork runs as managed cloud tasks and Copilot Tasks spins up a temporary cloud computer and browser per run, but nothing persists between tasks - there is no dedicated VM, disk, or logged-in browser you own.
- The true always-on agent (Microsoft Scout, the first 'Autopilot') is limited to private preview and Frontier enrollees as of July 2026; generally available Copilot is still session-based - ask-and-respond, scheduled prompts, and per-task Cowork delegation.
- Autonomous work is business-gated and metered separately: Cowork requires a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot seat ($21/user/month small business, $30/user/month enterprise) plus Copilot credits (~$1-$7+ per task), and it is off by default until admins enable it.
- No third-party messaging channels: Copilot was pulled from WhatsApp and other messengers on January 15, 2026 after Meta's policy change, so you reach it only through Microsoft's own apps and sites.
- The best experience assumes the Microsoft stack; consumer connectors cover Gmail/Google Drive/Calendar/Contacts and Outlook/OneDrive mainly for search and retrieval, and reaching tools like Notion, Linear, or Stripe means building custom agents in Copilot Studio.
Choose Microsoft Copilot if…
- Your work lives in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams and you want AI embedded directly in those apps, grounded in your company's documents and meetings.
- You are an IT organization that needs governance first: Entra identities for agents, tenant-level spending caps, admin off-by-default controls, and Microsoft's compliance framework.
- You want the cheapest path to solid everyday AI: the free tier, or Office plus Copilot bundled from $9.99/month for individuals and Copilot Chat included with business Microsoft 365.
- You want to build custom, governed agents over enterprise systems (SharePoint, Dynamics, internal APIs) using Copilot Studio's low-code tooling.
Choose Rick Boers if…
- You need a custom workflow or product built around your team.
- You want one builder to own design, implementation, and delivery.
- Your project needs integrations or behavior beyond a packaged tool.
- You need a custom workflow or product built around your team.
Common questions
Is Microsoft Copilot better than Rick Boers?
This comparison is between using a packaged tool and commissioning a custom system. Provider features change; check current documentation. For a custom build, we agree the specific workflow, infrastructure, integrations, and operating responsibilities.
Can Microsoft Copilot work autonomously in the background?
This comparison is between using a packaged tool and commissioning a custom system. Provider features change; check current documentation. For a custom build, we agree the specific workflow, infrastructure, integrations, and operating responsibilities.
How much does Microsoft Copilot cost in 2026?
The first 20-minute fit call is free. Paid work is scoped individually. We agree the deliverables, price, and payment milestones before work begins; hosting and model costs depend on the system we build.