Microsoft Reveals Co-Pilot AI Assistant for Windows

Starting in June, Microsoft will begin testing the implementation of a Windows 11 ‘personal assistant’ AI named Copilot. AI chatbots have seen a surge in popularity over the past months, with ChatGPT, Bing AI, Jasper, YouChat, Google Bard, and more chatbots garnering lots of attention. These chatbots are largely browser or app-based, however. Microsoft sees an opportunity in bringing its AI technology straight to PC users’ operating systems, installing Copilot directly into Windows 11 users’ taskbars.

Microsoft is no stranger to AI technology, by any means. It has multiple AI products already available. That includes Azure AI, a service designed for developers and data scientists, Copilot for Microsoft 365 which includes Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, Microsoft Security Copilot for data and network security, search engine Bing AI, and Microsoft Viva Sales AI. These AI services provide guidance catering specifically to each’s subject. Now it has announced its next ambitious AI service.

The Copilot service already available for Microsoft’s Edge browser and Microsoft 365 Office apps is now coming directly to Windows 11. Users will be able to access the AI chatbot directly from their taskbar, as well as through all programs running through the operating system. Microsoft’s head of Windows Panos Panay says that Copilot’s ubiquity is the intention. The team wants Copilot’s sidebar to be “always available” as Windows 11 users’ personal assistant.

A video released by Microsoft provides some examples of how Copilot will be useful to Windows 11 users. Users can ask Copilot “complex questions” and will receive thorough answers in response, can adjust settings by asking without having to search through menus, and even parse documents and summarize, provide feedback, or even rewrite. The Copilot AI will be fully featured and have full access to users’ PCs.

One complex example of how Copilot is tied to a user’s PC shows someone designing a logo for their coffee shop. They ask Copilot how to create a logo and Copilot recommends using the Adobe Express app which is installed on the PC, along with a summary of how it can be used. A link in Copilot’s sidebar jumps directly to Adobe Express’ logo templates. The user then sends the logo they create to other employees via Microsoft Teams through the AI chatbot.

A montage at the end of the Microsoft Windows 11 Copilot trailer shows other potential uses. These include interacting with Spotify, GitHub, games like Forza Horizon 5, and more. Panay says that “AI is going to reinvent how you do everything on Windows,” and judging from the trailer that’s Microsoft’s goal. Details regarding privacy and whether the AI shares data with Microsoft weren’t offered, but Windows users won’t have to wait long for more information as public testing of Windows 11 Copilot will begin in June.

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