“Quite unlike anything we’ve seen before:” Microsoft launches wild new Copilot experience that blurs AI and human interaction, designed to be your friend rather than a tool

"Quite unlike anything we’ve seen before:" Microsoft launches wild new Copilot experience that blurs AI and human interaction, designed to be your friend rather than a tool

What you need to know

  • Copilot is getting a major update with a new user interface and capabilities.
  • The new interface is designed to be “warm and inviting” with an immersive chat experience.
  • Copilot will read you the news every morning, and can even browse the web alongside you.
  • The new Copilot is available today on Windows, the web, iOS, and Android.

As a seasoned tech enthusiast with a knack for AI-powered tools, I must admit that Microsoft’s latest update to Copilot has piqued my interest. The promise of an AI friend, more than just another tool, resonates deeply with me as someone who spends countless hours in front of screens.


Today, Microsoft unveils a significant upgrade for Copilot, aiming to make it feel more like a conversational companion rather than just an AI tool. The update includes a revamped user interface that’s easier on the eyes and more user-friendly, as well as new functions and abilities to set Copilot apart from other AI tools. Microsoft envisions Copilot as not only a helpful tool but also a friendly AI ally.

The revamped Copilot interface, designed anew from scratch, boasts a modern card-style layout that’s both aesthetically pleasing and inviting. Unlike previous Microsoft products, this one features a blend of font styles and less structured uniformity throughout the design. The company characterizes the new interface as more intuitive, easy to comprehend, swift, and fluid, with a friendly tone and unique aesthetic. Essentially, they aim for it to feel more like an interaction with a human.

As a researcher, I eagerly share the conviction that we can usher in an unprecedented era of technology characterized by calmness, assistance, and unwavering support. In a recent communication, Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, articulates this vision. The groundbreaking AI assistant, “Copilot,” is envisioned as a constant companion, standing beside you in your endeavors, always prioritizing your interests. It’s designed to grasp the nuances of your life while maintaining the utmost respect for your privacy, data security, and confidentiality. With Copilot, you gain access to an expansive knowledge base, allowing you to navigate through the daily onslaught of information with ease, organization, and a touch of guidance when needed.

"Quite unlike anything we’ve seen before:" Microsoft launches wild new Copilot experience that blurs AI and human interaction, designed to be your friend rather than a tool

Microsoft emphasizes that Copilot is not just an artificial intelligence tool; it’s designed to be more like a companion. You can confide in it about personal matters such as seeking advice on asking someone out or discussing work-related stress, but also simply chat with it when you feel like sharing your thoughts or need companionship. In essence, Copilot is intended to learn from and adapt to you, becoming a reliable partner to help you navigate life more effectively and foster connections.

The updated Copilot introduces several novel capabilities, commencing with “Copilot Voice,” an enhanced method for communicating with Copilot that mimics everyday conversation. Similar to GPT-4o, Copilot Voice allows you to converse naturally with Microsoft’s assistant using voice, making it feel like chatting with a friend. Copilot Voice can respond with filler words like “um” and “ahh,” just as a real person would, and it can seamlessly adapt to interruptions and shifts in topic without missing a beat.

The updated Copilot offers several unique human-sounding voices to pick from, each subtly enhanced by a robotic tone. These voices are what you’ll hear when using the “Copilot Daily” feature, which delivers a summary of today’s news, weather forecast, reminders, and more.

"Quite unlike anything we’ve seen before:" Microsoft launches wild new Copilot experience that blurs AI and human interaction, designed to be your friend rather than a tool

Each day with Copilot Daily is akin to tuning into a personalized radio show. It allows you to move back and forth between the diverse subjects hand-picked for you, making it easy to listen in any order that suits you best. You can choose to hear the entire broadcast chronologically or jump straight to the topics that catch your fancy. Microsoft assures us that Copilot Daily will compile news and content from reputable sources like Reuters, Financial Times, and others.

Additionally, there’s a novel “Personalized Discover” function that tailors conversation initiators and other abilities based on context, using Copilot. Copilot takes into account your activities across various Microsoft services and interactions with it to create these suggestions. In time, this feature may also consider the websites you browse in Edge.

In addition to the recently introduced capabilities, Microsoft is introducing two innovative experimental features aimed at enhancing Copilot’s productivity for you. One of these is Copilot Vision, a forthcoming Edge feature that will enable Copilot to browse the web simultaneously with you. This means it will view the same webpages you do in real-time and engage in a conversation to offer suggestions, assist with navigation, spark ideas, and much more.

As a fan, I’d put it like this: “With Copilot Vision, I can browse online shoe stores like a pro! Just by speaking up, I can ask Copilot to help me find the perfect pair of red high-tops. It scans the site I’m on, guides me to the right spots, and even offers its thoughts on the shoes I might end up choosing. It’s like having a personal shopping assistant!

"Quite unlike anything we’ve seen before:" Microsoft launches wild new Copilot experience that blurs AI and human interaction, designed to be your friend rather than a tool

You have the option to utilize it for casual conversation while reading news or social media. It can offer suggestions on how to respond to a message or serve as an outlet to share your feelings about a specific headline that might have made you angry. It’s important to note that Microsoft’s Copilot Vision is an entirely opt-in feature, activated only when you choose to enable it. Moreover, all the data it processes is handled directly on your device and not sent to Microsoft.

Copilot Vision isn’t functional on websites that require payment for access, and it’s initially limited to a few specific sites. However, the plan is to expand its availability to more websites in the future.

In the latest update for Copilot, there’s a new tool called “Think More Deeply.” This feature is aimed at enhancing Copilot’s capabilities when dealing with intricate questions and requests. When activated, Think More Deeply mode might cause Copilot to take more time to respond, but the answers will be thorough, detailed, or highly technical instead of brief and basic.

In a novel initiative, Microsoft has introduced two innovative AI features – Copilot Vision and Think Deeper – under a trial phase called “Copilot Labs.” This is an area within Copilot where new AI capabilities are nurtured and tested before they’re considered ready for widespread use. At present, these experimental features are accessible only to Copilot Pro subscribers; free users will not have the opportunity to test them at this stage.

Today, the latest version of Copilot is accessible on Windows, iOS, Android devices, and online platforms. Due to its progressive release, you might not find it immediately, but it’ll become available to you shortly. In addition, the company has shared plans for an array of new AI experiences arriving this fall exclusively for Copilot+ PCs. These updates include a novel Click To Do AI overlay and AI integration within Windows Search.

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2024-10-01 17:10