Microsoft embraces human-centred AI

Microsoft has launched Copilot Fall Release in its quest to make AI more personal, useful, and human-centred. 

"Instead of tech that demands more attention, we’re making tech that gives you back time for the things that matter. Instead of AI that replaces human judgment, we’re building AI that empowers your own – helping you make better decisions, spark your creativity, deepen your connections," explained Mustafa Suleyman, CEO, Microsoft AI in a blog post.

"Here’s the simple idea I keep coming back to: technology should work in service of people. Not the other way around. Ever." The upgraded Copilot has new features that are focused on making Copilot more personal, useful, and connected:

- Imagine enables AI-generated ideas to be explored and remixed in a collaborative space. Every post can be liked and remixed.

- With Memory & Personalization, Copilot can remember important information like training for a marathon or an anniversary, then recall it during future interactions. The company is also beginning to roll out the ability to reference past conversations.

- The Connectors feature links services like OneDrive, Outlook, Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Calendar, so Copilot can locate things across multiple accounts using natural language.

"You can locate documents, emails and calendar events. Privacy is built in with explicit consent required before any data access, and you remain in control of what’s connected and searchable," said Suleyman. 

- Copilot Search combines AI-generated answers with traditional results, together with clear, cited responses.

Beyond the app, Copilot on Windows turns every Windows 11 PC into an AI PC, making everyday tasks easier and more intuitive. With the new wake phrase “Hey Copilot,” users can start a conversation if the feature is enabled and the PC is unlocked. Copilot can open and summarise files on the PC, guide users through tasks in real time with Copilot Vision, with text-based interaction in the pipeline.

A significant number of features are currently available only in the US. Groups, for example, brings in Slack or WhatsApp-style features. Up to 32 users can collaborate in real time, with Copilot summarising threads, proposing options, tallying votes, and splitting tasks. The Mico AI companion, described by media as the AI-era Clippy, is an optional visual presence that listens, reacts, and even changes colours to reflect interactions. Learn Live is another US-only feature which turns Copilot into a voice-enabled, Socratic tutor that guides users through concepts instead of directly providing the answers.

Explore

Features are rolling out worldwide in the next few weeks. Feature and app availability and functionality may vary by region, device type, and browser version.

Download the Copilot app for iOS at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-copilot/id6472538445?mt=8&pt=80423&ct=MA13ZG and for Android at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.copilot&referrer=adjust_reftag%3DclSZpZYAKlx2n%26utm_source%3DEdgeWeb%26utm_campaign%3DMA13ZG%26utm_content%3Dunknown%26utm_term%3Ddesktop-android or by visiting copilot.microsoft.com in a browser.