With big tech now fully committed to generative AI, new products that utilise the technology keep dropping almost every day. The technology lets computers draw, write, code, and more almost as well as humans – and the list of use cases keeps on expanding.
At the forefront of generative AI deployment is probably Microsoft. The company which drew flak over the past few years for stagnation in innovation is now on a streak of releasing unique AI-powered services. From the new Bing with its ChatGPT-like chatting capabilities to the Microsoft 365 Copilot that boosts productivity, we list every AI product Microsoft has announced over the past few months.
Bing Chat
In early February, Microsoft unveiled a new version of Bing with ChatGPT-like capabilities. The new Bing has a chat feature that was initially powered by a next-gen version of OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 model when it launched but was apparently upgraded to GPT-4 more recently.
Microsoft has been committed to frequent updates to the new AI-powered Bing (Express photo)
With the new Bing, you can ask questions and get detailed, human-like responses even for oddly specific queries, with citations that link back to original sources. The chatbot can also help with creative needs, such as generating articles, poems, and more.
Bing Image Creator
The Bing Image Creator web interface (Express photo)
Microsoft late last month also announced a Dall-E-powered image creator that can create images simply through words describing the picture you want to see. While the feature was previously limited to Bing preview users, availability is being expanded to all users now. The image creator will be placed in the sidebar of Edge, although you may have to manually add it through the + icon.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a new feature that uses AI to help you work smarter and faster. It works with your data and apps to turn your words into actions. You can use Copilot to write, edit, summarize, create, analyse, and communicate with natural language commands.
Copilot also introduces Business Chat, a new way to do things like generating status updates or scheduling meetings based on your data. Copilot is enterprise-ready and respects your privacy and security. It is currently in testing with select customers and will be available soon. When it rolls out, you should see it across Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more.
Microsoft Security Copilot
Security Copilot is a new AI-powered security tool that Microsoft will integrate with end-to-end its Security products, and over time expand it to a growing ecosystem of third-party products
The tool helps defenders respond to threats faster and more effectively. It uses generative AI and Microsoft’s global threat intelligence to provide clear, actionable insights and guidance for mitigating risks. Security Copilot can also answer questions in natural language and summarize the work done by analysts. It is currently in preview and not yet generally available.
Copilot for OneNote
Already launched for other Microsoft 365 apps, the Copilot integration was also announced for OneNote on Wednesday. Powered by GPT-4, OneNote can now generate content for you, such as summaries, outlines, bullet points, or even poems. You can also ask OneNote to rewrite or improve your existing notes, or to suggest related topics or sources.
SwiftKey keyboard
Bing Chat is now directly accessible on the SwiftKey keyboard app. The new update on SwiftKey more or less makes the Bing Mobile app redundant as users will now be able to access the chatbot from anywhere.
Bing Chat is coming to SwiftKey. Download the latest SwiftKey beta and sign in to your MSA.
Reposted with cleaner screenshots. pic.twitter.com/dBss7gnOzn
— Xeno (@XenoPanther) April 5, 2023
To access the new Bing Chat integration, users will need to download the beta version of SwiftKey on the Google Play Store. As of now, there is no confirmation on when it will come to iOS.
GitHub Copilot X
Programmers have already been using GitHub Copilot to speed up their programming workflows but with the new GPT-4 Copilot X, it’s being enhanced further. Copilot X introduces new features such as chat and voice interfaces, pull request support, and documentation assistance.
Developers can now interact with their AI assistant in natural language, get code suggestions, explanations, fixes, tests, and more. GitHub Copilot X aims to reduce boilerplate and manual tasks and enable developers to focus on the bigger picture.
Microsoft Viva Sales
Viva Sales, Microsoft’s CRM companion application, “designed to help sellers boost productivity, lighten workloads, save time, and help salespeople sell more” recently gained a new generative AI-powered experience. It helps sellers communicate more effectively with prospects and customers.
Viva Sales will now generate suggested email content for various scenarios, such as replying to an inquiry or creating a proposal, based on data from Microsoft Graph and the connected CRM system. This feature is available through a preview program and aims to save time and improve customer satisfaction for sales teams. Viva Sales also offers conversation intelligence and insights to help sellers optimise their performance.
