Microsoft has taken a step further in artificial intelligence (AI) by announcing its plan to integrate a ChatGPT-like system, Windows Copilot, in all PC apps. The AI personal assistant would be available as a preview in June and would serve as the users’ personal assistant. This initiative was announced during the Microsoft Build conference and was described as an action that would make every user of Windows a power user.
Microsoft, which is one of the multibillion-dollar investors in ChatGPT maker OpenAI, has been incorporating generative AI in products, starting with the search engine Bing and browser Edge in February. Despite the partnership, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that they do not control OpenAI.
The Copilot will be available in the taskbar while staying consistent across all apps, programmes, and windows. It will be available to users in apps such as Word and Teams. The Copilot initiative is coming at a time where Windows’ revenue has been suffering. Its revenue decreased over 12% to $5.3 billion in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter last year.
Microsoft’s chief technology officer and executive vice president of AI, Kevin Scott, said that Microsoft and OpenAI’s partnership is setting the pace of innovation in AI. During the conference, he also stated that even Microsoft has been surprised by how much of the zeitgeist is captured by things like ChatGPT.
While technology giants such as Microsoft and Google are accelerating their deployment of AI technologies, advocacy groups, researchers, and even AI startups, such as OpenAI, are asking for a more robust set of AI guidelines and regulations. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a Senate testimony earlier this month that lawmakers should create regulations to curb AI’s potential harms such as disinformation.
Microsoft has an in-house AI ethics team and a set of AI principles that include leadership involvement, inclusive governance, actionable guidelines and investment, and empowerment for people.
Overall, the Windows Copilot initiative is a significant milestone for Microsoft’s commitment to AI, and it would indeed make every user a power user.
