Microsoft Build has made a series of significant announcements about its expanded use of AI across various applications and services, including Windows 11, Microsoft 365, and more.
Among the highlights of the event is the introduction of an AI personal assistant called Copilot to Windows 11. Previously integrated into Edge, Office apps, and GitHub, Copilot will now reside within the Windows 11 taskbar. Users can access the Copilot sidebar to ask for text summaries, rewrites, explanations, and adjust computer settings. The feature is scheduled for public testing next month before its wider release.
Windows 11 will also receive other updates, such as support for Bluetooth LE, enabling high-quality audio without excessive battery consumption. Additionally, live captions will now support 10 additional languages and dialects, and native RGB controls will be introduced in Windows 11.
Microsoft has also announced advancements for its Microsoft 365 Copilot, including support for plug-ins. Teams messages extensions, Power Platform connectors, and ChatGPT technology-based tools are among the plug-in types the AI assistant will now accommodate. Users can select from a range of third-party plug-ins, including those from Atlassian and Adobe. The company will unify the plug-in development standards, allowing them to work seamlessly across all three AI-powered tools.
Moreover, Microsoft is integrating 365 Copilot into its Edge browser. By utilizing the content of a webpage, the tool can assist users in Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, Word, and Excel, helping draft emails, add data to spreadsheets, and generate status updates based on chat threads. This integration will also support the aforementioned plug-ins.
In the realm of developer tools, Microsoft is enhancing Windows Terminal with an AI-powered chatbot through GitHub Copilot integration. This feature allows developers to receive code recommendations, explanations for errors, and perform various actions directly within Terminal. The company is also exploring the possibility of integrating GitHub Copilot into other developer tools.
Furthermore, Microsoft is making Bing the default search engine for OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot. As part of this collaboration, Bing will provide citations in ChatGPT’s responses for ChatGPT Plus users. In addition to previously announced OpenTable and WolframAlpha plug-ins, Bing will support plug-ins from Expedia, Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, Redfin, TripAdvisor, Zillow, and more.
With Microsoft’s extensive investments in AI and OpenAI’s technologies, the company aims to leverage AI capabilities across its ecosystem, making it easier and more efficient for users and developers to interact with its applications and services.
