For its 50th birthday, Microsoft revamped its AI-powered Copilot chatbot, adding some exciting new features. Copilot can now interact with most websites, helping you book tickets, make restaurant reservations, and more. It remembers your preferences, like favorite foods and movies, much like how ChatGPT operates. Additionally, it can analyze real-time video from your phone, answering questions based on what it “sees.”
These upgrades come as Microsoft appears to be shifting away from relying solely on OpenAI’s technology and embracing more of its own methods. Copilot has often lagged behind competitors like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, which have been rapidly improving their capabilities.
Recently, Microsoft reported that Copilot can now complete tasks online by working with various partners, such as 1-800-Flowers.com, Booking.com, and Expedia. Just type in a command like “send a bouquet to my partner,” and Copilot will do its best to get it done. This new functionality also allows it to track online deals. For example, if you ask it to find discounts on a specific item, it will keep an eye out and alert you when prices drop.
However, how well Copilot performs these tasks remains uncertain. Microsoft hasn’t shared much about its capabilities or potential limitations, which raises questions about its reliability compared to its competitors. Websites might also block Copilot, similar to how they can restrict access to other bots if they’re concerned about traffic loss affecting their revenue.
On the bright side, Copilot offers a unique feature that generates “podcasts” based on articles or web pages. The bot can create discussions between two virtual hosts, allowing you to interact with them by asking questions, which adds a fun twist to digesting content.
Moreover, Copilot’s capabilities extend to mobile devices. It can use your camera to answer questions about what it sees, like identifying unusual flowers. It also integrates with Windows, letting it recognize what’s on your desktop. This feature will first roll out to Windows Insider members next week.
While these features show promise, there are concerns about privacy and security. Hopefully, there are safeguards in place to prevent Copilot from accessing private files or disrupting your work. Copilot also introduces a new “Pages” function that organizes notes and research into a cohesive document, drawing inspiration from similar tools created by ChatGPT and Anthropic.
In another exciting addition, the Deep Research feature allows Copilot to analyze and combine information from various sources to answer more complex questions. This could significantly enhance productivity, as it provides detailed insights quickly.
Finally, the chatbot’s ability to remember user preferences sets it apart. This could personalize your experience, delivering tailored solutions and reminders. If you’re uncomfortable with this feature, Microsoft allows you to delete specific memories or opt out entirely. Their emphasis on user control means you can choose how much information you share.
As AI continues to evolve, tools like Copilot are redefining how we interact with technology, making tasks simpler and more personalized. How users adapt to these changes will likely shape the future of AI applications, keeping the conversation around privacy and functionality at the forefront.
For more insights into the evolving world of AI, check out this government report on AI in daily life.
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Source linkCopilot,Microsoft
