Microsoft Build has kicked off as expected artificial intelligence (AI) is on the spotlight.
During the tech giant’s annual developer event, it unveiled numerous updates regarding the integration of AI into its applications and services, such as Windows 11 and Microsoft 365.
With a multitude of announcements at Microsoft Build 2023, it may have been challenging to keep track of all the news. If you want to keep up with the latest, we have gathered some of the top announcements from the event and presented them below.
Windows 11 gets an AI co-pilot
Microsoft is set to introduce its AI personal assistant, Copilot, to the Windows 11 platform, expanding its existing integration across Edge, Office apps, and GitHub. In an exciting twist, Windows Copilot will reside within the taskbar, conveniently accessible with a single click. Once opened, the Copilot sidebar empowers users to seek text summarisation, rewriting, and explanations within any application, alongside the ability to customise computer settings. Microsoft plans to conduct public testing of this feature starting next month, followed by a wider release to more users.
Apart from the Copilot debut, Windows 11 will also receive several smaller yet noteworthy updates. Bluetooth LE support, for instance, will enable users to enjoy high-quality audio without compromising their device’s battery life. Additionally, Microsoft is expanding live captions, which transcribe audio in real time, to include support for ten new languages and dialects. Furthermore, native RGB controls will be incorporated into Windows 11, granting users enhanced management over their device’s colours.
Bing comes to ChatGPT
Bing is set to become the default search engine for ChatGPT. This partnership holds great importance as ChatGPT currently lacks a real-time search engine, which limited its ability to retrieve up-to-date information—a gap Bing is well-equipped to fill.
The integration of Bing into ChatGPT is expected to not only enhance the search engine’s popularity but also unlock new possibilities for ChatGPT users. While this move may diminish some of the unique features offered by Bing Chat, such as web searching capabilities, it represents a substantial stride towards making assistive AI more accessible and valuable to a wider audience. Notably, Microsoft and OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) are leveraging a shared platform for plugins, ensuring that both Bing Chat and ChatGPT will evolve and expand their capabilities in tandem.
Microsoft 365 co-pilot is now on Edge
Microsoft is introducing 365 Copilot to Edge. This tool will find its home within the browser’s sidebar and utilise the content of the webpage you’re currently viewing to assist you in your Microsoft 365 projects.
With the integration of 365 Copilot, tasks such as drafting emails, inputting data into spreadsheets, creating status updates from chat threads, and more will be streamlined across Microsoft 365 apps, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and others. Furthermore, this integration will seamlessly support the aforementioned plug-ins that are set to enhance the functionality of 365 Copilot.
Windows app store gets an AI facelift
The Microsoft Store on Windows is getting an AI update, introducing a range of new features that will enhance the overall user experience.
Firstly, users can expect the introduction of an AI Hub within the store. This dedicated section will showcase a curated collection of exceptional AI experiences crafted by both Microsoft and developers. These experiences will encompass a wide array of productivity-boosting applications, enabling tasks like resume building, trip planning, and presentation creation.
Additionally, the Microsoft Store will soon implement AI-generated review summaries. By leveraging artificial intelligence, customer reviews will be condensed into concise summaries, assisting users in making more informed purchasing decisions. With this feature, users can quickly gain valuable insights and streamline their decision-making process.
AI powers Windows Terminal
Windows Terminal is set to receive an innovative addition—an AI-powered chatbot integration through GitHub Copilot. Developers who utilise GitHub Copilot will now have direct access to the chatbot within Terminal. This integration enables developers to perform various actions, receive code recommendations, and gain explanations for errors, all seamlessly within the Terminal environment. Microsoft has expressed its interest in extending the integration of GitHub Copilot to other developer tools like WinDBG, demonstrating their commitment to enhancing developer experiences across multiple platforms.
However, Microsoft’s developer-focused updates do not stop there. Another notable introduction is the Dev Home dashboard, designed to simplify the setup and usage of Windows development machines. This feature aims to streamline the developer workflow and enhance productivity.
Additionally, Microsoft is introducing AI-generated app review summaries to the Microsoft Store.
