Microsoft’s annual Build conference has always been a platform for the tech giant to reveal its most innovative advancements. This year’s event was no different, with a special emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the exciting role it is poised to play in Microsoft’s ecosystem. Here’s a recap of the top five revelations from Microsoft Build 2023.
1. Windows 11 Welcomes AI Copilot
In a bid to make AI ubiquitous in their ecosystem, Microsoft announced the integration of its AI personal assistant, Copilot, into Windows 11. Living within the taskbar, Copilot can be summoned to perform various functions, such as summarizing, rewriting, or explaining text from any app. Future updates for Windows 11 include support for Bluetooth LE, new languages for live captions, and native RGB controls.
2. Microsoft 365 Copilot: Now with Plug-in Support
Microsoft’s AI assistant is now more versatile than ever. The 365 Copilot will support various plug-ins, including Teams messages extensions, Power Platform connectors, and tools from ChatGPT. The addition of third-party plug-ins from companies like Atlassian and Adobe further bolsters Copilot’s functionality. Developers can rejoice as these plug-ins will be built with the same standard that OpenAI uses for ChatGPT, promising interoperability and ease of development.
3. Microsoft Edge and 365 Copilot: A Productive Integration
With productivity at the heart of its ethos, Microsoft is integrating 365 Copilot into its Edge browser. This move promises to streamline workflows, allowing users to use content from websites to aid their work in Microsoft 365 apps like Outlook, Word, and Excel. The added support for plug-ins boosts this feature even further.
4. AI-powered Chatbot for Windows Terminal
In a major leap for developers, Microsoft is introducing an AI-powered chatbot to Windows Terminal through integration with GitHub Copilot. This handy feature will aid developers with code recommendations and error explanations. Along with this, Microsoft unveiled a new Dev Home dashboard for an improved developer experience, and an AI Hub to showcase Windows apps that utilize AI.
5. Bing Becomes the Default Search Experience for ChatGPT
OpenAI’s ChatGPT has a new partner in Bing, which is set to become its default search engine. The enhanced AI chatbot experience will feature citations surfaced by Bing. In addition, Bing is set to support plug-ins from a range of external sources, including Expedia, Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, Redfin, TripAdvisor, Zillow, and more.
This year’s Microsoft Build conference was undeniably a landmark for AI, with significant advancements announced across Microsoft’s suite of products. The embedding of AI in everyday applications promises a new era of productivity and ease of use. We look forward to exploring and leveraging these updates as they roll out, and will keep you updated with our findings. Stay tuned!