Copilot Not Reading Semantic Model Field Descriptions

[sedison1212]

I'm running into an issue where Copilot in the Power BI Service and Desktop is not recognizing the descriptions I input for fields in my semantic model.

My prompt is typically something like - "what is the description for the [field_name] field from the semantic model?"

The copilot response is something like - "The [field_name] field in your semantic model appears to be a text field, but the semantic model does not provide a detailed description or definition for it. If you need to understand its specific meaning or usage, you may want to consult your data documentation or ask a subject matter expert familiar with your data source."

Here is what I have confirmed:

- All questioned fields have descriptions defined in Power BI Desktop.

- None of the fields are hidden

- I have no AI instructions

- I diagnosed JSON outputs from Copilot and only see the "Name" and "Type" fields listed.

Is there any official guidance or known limitation where Copilot does not retrieve semantic model descriptions for fields or measures?

I am trying to determine if this is a bug, an intentional design, or an internal issue.

Any documenation or clarification would be appreciated.

[VenkateshSriram]

Thank you for raising this question. I’m currently working on a Proof of Concept (POC) related to Copilot and semantic model metadata behavior, specifically around retrieving column or field descriptions.

If you were able to find any resolution, clarification, or official guidance regarding this issue, could you please share an update here? It would be very helpful for my ongoing POC to understand whether this behavior is expected, a known limitation, or if there are any recommended workarounds.

I would really appreciate any insights or updates, as this will help me progress with my POC.

[v-saisrao-msft]

Hi @sedison1212,

Checking in to see if your issue has been resolved. let us know if you still need any assistance.

Thank you.

[v-saisrao-msft]

Hi @sedison1212,

Have you had a chance to review the solution we shared by @amitchandak? If the issue persists, feel free to reply so we can help further.

Thank you.

[amitchandak]

@sedison1212 , It only worked when I added it to AI Instustions 

[amitchandak · Accepted solution]

@sedison1212 , While Copilot can read meta, I doubt it is trained to answer description. 

Add some AI instructions and try 

Please log and issue and idea


Limitations do not talk about that 

• Copilot isn't supported in workspaces backed by Power BI Premium Per User (PPU).
• The Copilot button on the ribbon might be visible to some customers even if the Copilot chat pane isn't yet available for them. This situation is temporary.
• The report view Copilot pane isn't supported in Power BI Desktop versions dated January 2025 and earlier. Update to the latest version to access this feature.