Microsoft’s Copilot as people’s everyday AI companion
With broader availability of AI-powered Copilot experiences, Microsoft is making technology more useful for people
Microsoft has introduced Copilot, an AI-powered companion designed to make technology more accessible, efficient and intuitive for everyday users.
Acting as a virtual assistant, this innovative AI companion has been seamlessly integrated into Microsoft's flagship products, including GitHub for streamlined coding, Microsoft 365 for enhanced productivity, Bing and Edge for refined searching experiences and Windows for contextual value across applications and PC interactions.
This transformative technology, easily accessible within Windows 11, Microsoft 365, Edge, and Bing, either as an app or through a convenient right-click feature, is set to provide a unified and intelligent experience that leverages web context, work-related data and real-time PC activities to offer valuable assistance, all the while ensuring user privacy and security.
“Microsoft is ushering in a new era of AI technology that promises to reshape the way we interact with and benefit from our devices in line with our vision to create a holistic AI experience that seamlessly integrates into users' lives, spanning work and leisure,” said Microsoft.
The rollout of Copilot started commenced on 26 September with a free update to Windows 11 that boasts more than 150 new features, bringing the power of Copilot to various applications, including Paint, Photos and Clipchamp, making tasks simpler and more intuitive.
Some notable enhancements include AI-powered capabilities in Paint, Photos, Clipchamp, Notepad, enhancements to the File Explorer with a modernised interface designed for easier access to content and new text authoring experiences, voice access and natural voices in Narrator enhance Windows 11's accessibility.
Microsoft is also redefining the way users interact with the web through Bing and Edge. Bing introduces personalised answers based on chat history, expanding its capabilities for personalised recommendations. Copilot will enhance the shopping experience on Bing and Edge by assisting users in finding desired items and offering tailored recommendations.
Bing Chat Enterprise, introduced just two months ago, has already gained popularity among more than 160 million Microsoft 365 users. Now, it is expanding to the Microsoft Edge mobile app, offering multimodal visual search and Image Creator features promising to boost creativity and productivity in the workplace.
The centrepiece of Microsoft's AI transformation is Microsoft 365 Copilot, set to be generally available for enterprise customers on 1 November.
Central to this will be Microsoft 365 Chat, a new AI assistant that harnesses data from emails, meetings, chats, documents and the web, to assist users in complex and timeconsuming tasks. Preview customers can access Microsoft 365 Chat today, with plans to expand its availability.
To further empower users, Microsoft is introducing new capabilities for Copilot across various applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Loop, OneNote and OneDrive. Additionally, Windows 365 Switch and Windows 365 Boot will become generally available, making it easier to access Windows Cloud PCs and boost employee productivity while simplifying IT management.
“Microsoft's Copilot and the associated AI advancements are set to redefine the way we interact with technology, making it more accessible and efficient than ever before. Microsoft's Copilot continues to confirm how as technology continues to evolve, Microsoft remains at the forefront of AI innovation, making the future more accessible, secure and productive for all,” concluded Microsoft.