Summary
This knowledge base article explains the difference between Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams and Microsoft Teams Premium for Northwestern faculty and staff. While both enhance Microsoft Teams, they serve different purposes. Teams Premium improves the meeting experience itself, while Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams helps users turn meetings and conversations into follow up work.
Overview
Microsoft offers two optional Microsoft Teams add-ons that are often confused: Teams Premium and Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams. Both include AI powered features, but they are designed for different use cases. Both require add-on licenses at an additional cost per individual netID.
What Is Teams Premium?
Teams Premium enhances the meeting experience in Microsoft Teams.
It is designed for users who attend or host many meetings and want:
- Easier meeting recap and review
- More polished meeting appearance
- Additional security for sensitive discussions
Some Key features include:
- Automatic meeting summaries and highlights
- Suggested action items
- Chapters and speaker timelines in recordings
- Branded meetings (logos and backgrounds)
- Enhanced meeting protections (e.g., watermarks, recording controls)
Teams Premium does NOT:
- Draft emails or documents
- Work across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook
What Is Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams?
Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams is an AI assistant that helps users work with content from meetings, chats, and files.
It is designed to help users:
- Understand conversations
- Ask questions about what happened
- Turn discussions into follow up work
Some Key features include:
- Answering questions such as:
- “What decisions were made?”
- “What action items are assigned to me?”
- On demand summaries of meetings and chats
- Use of Facilitator during meetings
- Drafting follow up emails in Outlook
- Creating summary documents in Word
- Assisting with slides or briefings in PowerPoint
Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot works across Microsoft 365 applications, not just in Teams meetings.
Do Users Need Both?
No. Most users only need one, depending on how they work.
- Teams Premium is best for users who primarily want meeting recaps and improved meeting experiences.
- Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams is best for users who want AI help turning meetings into follow up work.
- Some advanced users may benefit from both, but it is not required.
Does Teams Premium Include Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams?
No.
Teams Premium includes AI powered meeting features, but it does not include Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams’s cross app AI assistance. Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams requires a separate license.
Does Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams Replace Teams Premium?
No.
They are complementary tools with different goals:
- Teams Premium focuses on meetings
- Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams focuses on productivity and follow up work
Examples of Faculty and Staff Use Cases
Teams Premium if they:
- Participate in committees or governance meetings
- Miss meetings and need fast recaps
- Host sensitive meetings (e.g. search committees)
- Attend frequent operational or administrative meetings
- Need quick summaries without rewatching recordings
Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams if they:
- Draft follow up communications
- Prepare summaries or reports
- Create teaching or administrative materials based on meetings
- Support leadership or projects
- Turn meetings into documentation, emails, or reports
Data Access and Security
Both Teams Premium and Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams:
- Respect existing Northwestern Microsoft 365 permissions
- Only exist in meetings, files, and content users already have access to
- Do not grant access to restricted or private data
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature |
Teams Premium |
Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams |
| Improves meeting experience |
Yes |
No |
| Automatic meeting recap |
Yes |
Yes |
| Ask questions about meetings |
No |
Yes |
| Draft follow up emails/documents |
No |
Yes |
| Works across Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot apps |
No |
Yes |
| Meeting branding & polish |
Yes |
No |
| Enhanced meeting security |
Yes |
No |
| Best for |
Heavy meeting participants |
Follow up and productivity work |
| |
|
|
Detailed Comparison Table
| Teams Feature |
Requires Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams |
Requires Teams Premium |
Notes |
| Facilitator (AI meeting agent) |
Yes |
No |
Facilitator is included with Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams; Teams Premium is not required |
| Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot Copilot for Teams in Teams (chat, meeting prompts, summaries) |
Yes |
No |
Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams add on enables AI assistance during and after meetings |
| Intelligent meeting recap (AI summary, tasks, highlights) |
Yes |
Yes |
Available with either Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams or Teams |
| Live translated captions & subtitles |
No |
Yes |
Realtime translation is a Teams Premium feature |
| Meeting templates (custom policies, defaults) |
No |
Yes |
Requires Teams Premium |
| Branded meetings (themes, lobby branding) |
No |
Yes |
Teams Premium only |
| Advanced meeting security (watermarking, E2EE options) |
No |
Yes |
Teams Premium advanced protection features |
| Virtual appointments (advanced scheduling, SMS, reporting) |
No |
Yes |
Teams Premium feature set |
| Webinars (advanced registration, waitlists, analytics) |
No |
Yes |
Teams Premium enhances webinars beyond standard Teams |
| Town halls (advanced production & reporting) |
No |
Yes |
Premium adds enhanced controls and insights |
| Meeting recap without AI (recording + transcript only) |
No |
No |
Included with standard Teams if recording/transcription is enabled |
| Live transcription (same language captions) |
No |
No |
Included with standard Teams policies |
| Teams Rooms basic experience |
No |
No |
AI enhancements require Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams, not Teams Premium |
| Facilitator visibility for attendees |
No |
No |
Only the enabler needs Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot within Teams; others can view/edit notes |
Your feedback on this article is welcome, and we review comments regularly. However, if you have an issue or question requiring immediate attention or want to discuss your feedback on this article, please get in touch with the Northwestern IT Service Desk at 847-49
1-4357 (1-HELP) or
consultant@northwestern.edu.