PowerPoint: create spotlight slides with Copilot

Key insights

• Start with an existing slide that contains the topics you want to explain one at a time.
• Ask Copilot to duplicate the slide and focus each copy on a different topic.
• The demonstrated prompt asks Copilot to blur the content outside each topic's focus.
• The example adds Morph transitions to the duplicated slides.
• Review the generated slides: the demonstration reports that Copilot took time to finish.

Copilot in PowerPoint can turn one existing slide into a sequence of copies, each emphasizing a different topic while de-emphasizing the rest. This can help presenters explain dense diagrams, processes, dashboards, or roadmaps one part at a time without changing the overall visual context. Ami Diamond [MVP] demonstrates the workflow using a slide about four phases of a Copilot adoption project.

What it does

The technique creates a progressive sequence from a single slide. Instead of manually building separate layouts for each point, you ask Copilot to duplicate the source slide and adjust the emphasis in each copy. In the example, each duplicate is meant to bring one of four topics forward and blur the other topics.

The repeated layout preserves the slide's context: viewers can see where the highlighted phase sits in the complete process. The example also requests a Morph transition between the resulting slides. Morph is the transition the presenter observes when moving through the sequence; the transcript does not explain its settings or how to customize it.

Who it is for and what you need

This is a presentation-authoring workflow for people who already have a slide with multiple related topics and want to guide an audience through them in sequence. The example uses a process with four phases, but the described method is not limited to that subject. The source material names no required PowerPoint plan, Copilot license, platform, or tenant setting.

It also does not establish rollout status, preview status, or regional availability. Treat the demonstrated result as an example of what happened in that session, not a statement that the same Copilot behavior is available in every environment. You need an existing slide to transform; the example begins with one Copilot had prepared.

How it works

1. Open the presentation and select the slide you want to turn into a sequence. In the demonstration, the source is slide 2 and contains four process topics.
2. Open Copilot in PowerPoint using the Copilot icon shown at the bottom of the interface.
3. Give Copilot a specific instruction. The demonstrated request is to copy the slide four times, focus each copy on topic 1, 2, 3, or 4, blur the remaining content, and add a Morph effect to the generated slides.
4. Wait for Copilot to make the duplicates and apply the focus treatment. The presenter notes that processing takes time, so check the slide thumbnails and allow the sequence to finish.
5. Review each slide and play through the sequence. Confirm that the intended topic is emphasized, the other content remains legible enough for context, and the transition works as expected.

The transcript includes a small ambiguity in how the slide range is spoken: the presenter first says slides 3 to 5, then clarifies that the requested range is slides 3, 4, 5, and 6. When writing your own prompt, name the exact slides or describe the transition requirement clearly so Copilot has less room to misinterpret it.

Limitations and open questions

Copilot's output needs review. The presenter initially says that the blur treatment looks redundant and then asks Copilot to proceed with a further adjustment. The final sequence appears closer to the intended result, but that experience does not guarantee a particular visual quality for other slides or prompts.

The workflow depends on having a slide whose content can be separated into topics. The source does not describe how to fix a blurred element manually, how Copilot handles grouped or complex objects, or whether the feature behaves the same in PowerPoint for the web, Windows, or Mac. It also does not provide licensing or availability details.

For a predictable result, inspect every duplicate rather than assuming the generated sequence is ready to present. The demonstrated approach is to ask Copilot to do the duplication and visual emphasis; manual copying and editing are mentioned as an alternative, but the source does not provide a full manual procedure.

Sources

• Ami Diamond [MVP] demonstration: Build Spotlight Slides with Copilot in PowerPoint

Frequently asked questions

How do I create spotlight slides with Copilot in PowerPoint?

Select an existing slide, open Copilot, and ask it to duplicate the slide while focusing each copy on a specified topic and blurring the remaining content. Review the generated copies and transitions.

Can Copilot add Morph transitions to the spotlight slides?

The demonstration asks Copilot to add Morph to the duplicated slides, and the presenter reports that the transition worked. The source does not describe how to configure Morph separately.

What license do I need for Copilot spotlight slides in PowerPoint?

The available source material does not state a required license or plan.

Is this Copilot workflow available in PowerPoint for the web and desktop?

The demonstration does not identify the platform or establish availability across PowerPoint versions, regions, or tenants.