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Microsoft Unveils Upgraded AI Assistant
Microsoft has unveiled an upgraded version of its artificial intelligence assistant that remembers user preferences and takes actions on their behalf, as the tech group takes on rivals building AI-infused products designed to attract millions of consumers.
The Seattle-based group at an event on Friday to mark its 50th anniversary announced a personalized “Copilot” that develops a “memory” and can recall important details, such as family birthdays and hobbies.
Mustafa Suleyman, the company’s consumer AI chief and co-founder of Google’s DeepMind unit, previewed several features, such as its digital assistant being able to independently book tickets, make reservations, and shop for goods online.
“This is far richer, more dynamic, supportive, and emergent than any software we’ve seen before,” Suleyman said, noting customers would retain controls over the new “agentic” AI abilities.
A New Era for Microsoft
The Copilot update represents the biggest step for the company’s consumer AI unit, more than a year after Suleyman joined Microsoft and as the company undergoes a strategic overhaul to reduce its OpenAI dependency.
Microsoft’s corporate offerings, such as its 365 workplace and Azure cloud, have helped drive profitability. The group derives more than three-quarters of its revenues from those services.
But the company is seeking to leverage AI to reinvent its image among consumers, a market it has frequently lost ground to competitors, such as Apple, Amazon, and Google.
Unlocking Huge Amounts of Value
Suleyman was speaking at an event attended by former chief executive Steve Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates. Both leaders had, at various times, made poorly received bets in the consumer market, including the Zune music player and a Windows line of smartphones.
“Windows phone was a huge miss. Search has been a huge miss. Microsoft has had a number of big misses,” said S Somasegar, a managing director at venture capital firm Madrona and a former Microsoft executive. “If the work Mustafa is doing with consumer AI starts resonating, it will unlock huge amounts of value.”
Features and Plans
Suleyman also demonstrated a podcast-generating feature, having poached staff from DeepMind, which created a similar feature for Google’s AI unit.
The company also highlighted a new “Vision” feature that will enable Copilot to process information from a user’s phone camera.
The Microsoft AI chief previewed plans for Copilot to have an avatar, reminiscent of when the company launched its infamous Clippy digital assistant in the late 90s.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s upgraded AI assistant, Copilot, marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to reinvent its image among consumers and compete with rivals in the AI-infused products market. With features such as podcast-generating and vision processing, Copilot is poised to unlock huge amounts of value for the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the purpose of Microsoft’s upgraded AI assistant, Copilot?
A: Copilot is designed to remember user preferences and take actions on their behalf, making it a personalized and dynamic AI assistant.
Q: What are some of the features of Copilot?
A: Copilot can independently book tickets, make reservations, and shop for goods online, among other features.
Q: How does Copilot work?
A: Copilot develops a “memory” and can recall important details, such as family birthdays and hobbies, and can process information from a user’s phone camera.
Q: Is Copilot available to the public?
A: The exact release date and availability of Copilot have not been announced, but it is expected to be available in the coming months.
