Plus AI vs. Copilot: A guide to choosing the best AI slide deck generator
Here's a comparison between Plus AI and Microsoft Copilot in generating slide decks with AI.
Given Microsoft’s massive, multi-billion-dollar investments in AI over the past couple of years, Copilot was positioned to be the ultimate productivity game-changer. It promised advanced automation workflows that would save professionals countless hours. Add in their undeniable home-field advantage, Microsoft literally owns and built PowerPoint, and you’d expect their native slide generation to be completely flawless by now.
However, the reality is surprisingly different. When it comes to actual PowerPoint generation, Copilot is weirdly bad at it. I recently tried a basic request: create a PPT file from an uploaded document, and it simply couldn’t do it.
Prompt: Create a PowerPoint file about the state of AI in 2026
The AI simply gave text-format instructions on how each slide should be. No actual presentation file was generated.
If you want to create the PPT file with Copilot, you’d have to do it through Microsoft 365. You bring up the Copilot prompt and describe your presentation request.
You can learn more about this feature in this documentation here.
What’s off-putting about it is the requirement to upgrade your account before you’re able to use it. This is not practical for users who do not want to get a MSFT 365 subscription just to use Copilot for PPT.
So, I went into searching for the best AI alternative to Copilot for generating presentation files with AI. One promising solution is an add-in called Plus AI.
Plus AI
This is a Microsoft PowerPoint add-in that integrates generative AI directly into your workflow. It’s built to help you create slides faster without leaving PowerPoint or relying on external websites.
You can download it from the Marketplace.
Once installed, the Plus AI tool should appear in the Add-ins section of the toolbar. Click the Plus AI icon from your add-in list. A panel will appear on the right sidebar, giving you multiple options for building slides.
You can start from scratch, refine an existing deck, or upload a document for Plus AI to handle both the writing and design.
Uploaded files are processed securely. The platform follows strict security standards and has achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance. If you are curious, you can read more about their security practices on their security page.
For example, uploading a document can instantly generate a 10-slide deck that matches a consistent design. From there, you can keep adding slides while maintaining the same style.
Plus AI also lets you edit with AI assistance and collaborate with others directly in PowerPoint.
What I like most about Plus AI is that it is seamlessly integrated into PPT. You don’t need to learn a new platform or figure out a new workflow. You open your deck, write a prompt, and it does the rest.
That kind of workflow really matters when you’re short on time or juggling multiple projects.
What’s even cooler is that you are given a free 7-day trial that works for both Google Slides and PowerPoint. It means you can explore the features ahead without paying an upfront cost.
Final Thoughts
It’s still puzzling to me why big companies like Microsoft and Google fail to implement effective AI automation features in their presentation tools. I mean, Claude and Plus AI are third-party add-ins, but they work so much better than the native tools. They offer more advanced features and are relatively cheaper.
Also, Plus AI offers a bunch of high-quality templates and a built-in AI image generator that can really level up the aesthetics and uniqueness of your slide deck.
I had high hopes for Copilot a couple of years back when AI was still heating up. But now, Microsoft seems to have failed in making it a go-to platform for AI workflows.
Anyway, go try Plus AI and Copilot to see which tool works best for your specific use case. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Hi there! Thanks for making it to the end of this post! My name is Jim, and I’m an AI enthusiast passionate about exploring the latest news, guides, and insights in the world of generative AI. If you’ve enjoyed this content and would like to support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support means a lot!