Microsoft Corp announced its latest plans to put artificial intelligence into the hands of more users, on Thursday.
Microsoft Unveiled AI “Copilot” for Microsoft 365
This was in response to a spate of unveilings this week by its rival Google with upgrades to its own widely used office software.
It appears that the technology company previewed a new AI “Copilot” for Microsoft 365 which is its product suite including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and Outlook emails.
According to Microsoft, the first open to some 20 enterprises for testing, AI will offer a draft in these applications, speeding up content creation and freeing up workers’ time.
In an online presentation, Microsoft’s chief executive, Satya Nadella said, “We believe this next generation of AI will unlock a new wave of productivity growth.”
In the meantime, Microsoft’s share price rose about 4% on the news.
In addition to that this week’s drumbeat of developments including new funding for AI startup Adept.
Reshaping How People Work
Interestingly, this reflects how companies large and small are locked in a fierce competition to deploy software that could reshape how people work.
On Tuesday, Microsoft and Google-owner Alphabet Inc, touted AI features for Gmail and a “magic wand” to draft prose in its own word processor.
It is noteworthy here that the capabilities that Microsoft and Google showcased are similar.
This frenzy to invest in and build new products began last year when ChatGPT was launched.
It brought a sensation that showed the public the potential of so-called large language models.
Basically, this technology learns from past data how to create content anew and it has evolved rapidly.
OpenAI began the release of a more-powerful version known as GPT-4 this week.
According to Microsoft, this partly underpins Microsoft’s Copilot features, along with an older GPT-3.5 model, business and application data.
RBC analyst, Rishi Jaluria said that the new capabilities – offered through Microsoft’s cloud – are poised to attract business and turn around slowing revenue growth.
Further adding, the Copilot will “drive more usage of Microsoft Office and increase the separation versus competitors,”.
