Microsoft Copilot AI Companion Features You Need To Know

At a recently concluded media event held in New York, Microsoft Corporation formally unveiled its all-new, groundbreaking AI companion, Microsoft Copilot. This innovation is set to reshape how individuals interact with technology and enhance their productivity. Microsoft Copilot will be seamlessly integrated into Windows 11, Microsoft 365, Edge, and Bing, offering a cohesive AI-powered experience across various applications and devices.

In addition to this major announcement, Microsoft introduced a host of exciting new experiences and devices geared towards enhancing productivity, stimulating creativity, and addressing the diverse needs of individuals and businesses.

Mr. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President & Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, emphasized the transformative nature of this development, stating, "We are ushering in a new era of AI, one that fundamentally alters our relationship with and the advantages derived from technology. With the convergence of chat interfaces and sophisticated language models, you can now articulate your needs in natural language, and the technology possesses the intelligence to respond, create content, or take action. At Microsoft, we envision this as having a co-pilot to assist you in navigating any task."

Here are the key highlights:

Microsoft Copilot: Microsoft has unified its AI capabilities into a single entity known as Microsoft Copilot, designed to be your everyday AI companion. Copilot is uniquely equipped to leverage web context, your work-related data, and your ongoing PC activities to provide enhanced assistance while prioritizing your privacy and security. This user-friendly and seamless experience will be readily available within Windows 11, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft's web browser, including Edge and Bing. You can access it as an app or conveniently trigger it with a right-click. Copilot represents an all-encompassing AI solution seamlessly integrated into your daily life and is set to commence its initial rollout with the upcoming Windows 11 release in September 2023.

Windows 11 Update: This update introduces over 150 new features designed to simplify complex tasks, enhance productivity, and reduce cognitive load. It includes the integration of Copilot, a revamped version of Outlook for Windows, advanced AI capabilities in Paint and Photos, improvements to Clipchamp, enhancements to Notepad, a modernized File Explorer, and the introduction of new natural voices in Narrator to improve accessibility. These updates position Windows as the premier destination for exceptional AI experiences and are scheduled to roll out starting September 26, 2023 with the latest Windows 11 update, version 22H2.

Microsoft's dedication to AI-driven enhancements within Windows 11 is evident through these various features and improvements:

Copilot Integration in Windows: Windows 11's upcoming update incorporates Copilot's capabilities, making tasks simpler and reducing cognitive strain. It's easily accessible via the taskbar or the Win+C keyboard shortcut, providing assistance across all apps and screen sizes.

Enhanced Paint: The Paint application has been enriched with AI-powered features such as background removal, layer support, and Cocreator, which leverages generative AI for creative endeavors.

Improved Photos: The Photos app now offers AI enhancements like Background Blur to emphasize subjects and improved content and location-based search capabilities.

Snipping Tool: The Snipping Tool introduces new methods for capturing screen content, including text extraction and sound capture for creating videos.

Clipchamp: Clipchamp now includes auto compose features that assist in video creation by suggesting scenes, edits, and narrative elements.

Notepad: Notepad has been enhanced to automatically save your session state and restore open tabs and unsaved content for a seamless user experience.

Outlook for Windows: The new Outlook app streamlines account management and provides intelligent tools for composing emails and attaching documents.

Modernized File Explorer: File Explorer receives modernized features, including a Gallery for convenient photo access.

Accessibility Improvements: Windows 11 continues its commitment to accessibility with new text authoring experiences and the inclusion of natural voices in Narrator.

Windows Backup: Transitioning to a new Windows 11 PC has become more convenient with Windows Backup, which facilitates the seamless transfer of files, apps, and settings.

New features in Bing and Edge: These enhancements encompass personalized responses generated based on chat history, an improved DALL.E 3 model from OpenAI in Bing Image Creator, and the introduction of Content Credentials, which employs cryptographic techniques to embed an invisible digital watermark in all AI-generated images in Bing, including their original creation date and time. Users can currently access Bing Chat through Microsoft Edge or at bing.com/chat, with these features set to roll out gradually.

Copilot in Microsoft Shopping: Bing and Edge are now capable of providing tailored recommendations and the best prices based on user requests, all powered by AI. Additionally, users will soon have the option to initiate shopping based on a photo or saved image.

Bing Chat Enterprise Updates: More than 160 million Microsoft 365 users already have complimentary access to Bing Chat Enterprise, and it is now available on the Microsoft Edge mobile app. Further enhancements include multimodal visual search and Image Creator to promote creativity in the workplace.

Microsoft 365 Copilot for Enterprise: Scheduled to be widely available for enterprise customers starting from November 1, 2023, along with Microsoft 365 Chat, a new AI assistant poised to revolutionize work processes.

Microsoft 365 Copilot for Consumers: Designer will be seamlessly integrated with Microsoft 365 Copilot for personal users, beginning with Word. Designer empowers users to transform text-heavy documents with custom graphics, creating visually appealing content such as social media posts and invitations, all using cutting-edge AI.

New Surface Devices: Microsoft is introducing new Surface devices equipped with the latest AI innovations, catering to both individuals and businesses. These devices include:

Surface Laptop Studio 2: This is the most powerful Surface device ever crafted, featuring the latest Intel Core processors and cutting-edge NVIDIA Studio tools for creators. It boasts a remarkable 14.4" PixelSense Flow touchscreen display and a versatile design with three distinct postures.

Surface Laptop Go 3: This device is the lightest and most portable Surface Laptop yet, featuring a touchscreen display and premium features like an exceptional typing experience and a Fingerprint Power Button. It is available in four stylish colors and delivers Intel Core i5 performance, all-day battery life, and robust RAM and storage options, making it the ideal everyday laptop and a platform for the latest AI tools from Microsoft and the industry.

Surface Go 4 for Business: This device will be exclusively available for organizations and builds upon the established momentum in scenarios such as frontline work and education.

Surface Hub 3: This premier collaboration device for hybrid work will now run the Microsoft Teams Rooms experience on impressive 50" or 85" screens, ushering in entirely new modes of collaboration with AI-enhanced tools.

3D printable Adaptive Pen Grips for Surface Pen: These additions to the accessory lineup expand accessibility for digital inking and creation, enabling more individuals to participate than ever before.

All these products and innovations are in line with Microsoft's goal to enable powerful and user-friendly AI experiences converge seamlessly, ensuring simplicity, security, and responsible use. Whether it's Windows 11 offering top-tier AI experiences for work, school, and home; Microsoft 365, the trusted productivity suite; or Bing and Edge, the innovative search engine and browser, all these components harmoniously come together on Windows 11 PCs like Surface. With Copilot empowering users to efficiently accomplish tasks and facilitating connections with loved ones and the wider world, Microsoft remains at the forefront of delivering valuable AI experiences.