Microsoft has upgraded its consumer AI assistant, Copilot, introducing a more friendly voice and enhanced reasoning capabilities. This latest update allows Copilot to analyze web pages for users as they browse, providing a more interactive experience. Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, revealed to Reuters that the company has assembled “an entire army” of creative directors—including psychologists, novelists, and comedians—to refine Copilot’s tone and style.
In a recent demonstration, a user inquired about a suitable housewarming gift from a grocery store for a friend who doesn’t drink wine. After some back-and-forth, Copilot responded, “Italian (olive) oils are the hot stuff right now. Tuscan’s my go-to. Super peppery.”
This update, which began rolling out on Tuesday, marks one of Suleyman’s first major initiatives since Microsoft launched his division in March, aimed at enhancing consumer technology and products. Historically, Microsoft has faced challenges in the consumer market, with its Bing search engine still overshadowed by Google.
Suleyman hopes Copilot will make a significant impact in the competitive landscape of AI chatbots, which includes contenders like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. The revamped voice capabilities allow Copilot to engage as a more active listener, incorporating verbal cues such as “cool” and “huh” into conversations.
At the core of Copilot are Microsoft AI (MAI) models, supplemented by technology from partner OpenAI. Suleyman announced that subscribers to the $20 monthly Copilot Pro can soon test a “Think Deeper” feature, designed to help users weigh options, such as deciding between moving to different cities.
Another upcoming feature for Pro subscribers, dubbed Copilot Vision, allows users to interact with AI about what they see in the Microsoft Edge browser. Microsoft assures that this feature requires user consent and will not save or utilize the viewed content for AI training.
These enhancements aim to position Copilot as an “ever-present confidant” for users, a vision that Suleyman initially expressed while leading Inflection AI, a company from which Microsoft recently recruited top talent.
Suleyman also shared that Copilot will eventually learn context from users’ Word documents, Windows desktops, and gaming consoles if permissions are granted.
Regarding the company’s AI endeavors, Suleyman mentioned that Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is enthusiastic, often inquiring when Copilot will be able to read and parse his emails, indicating ongoing interest in the technology’s development. “We’re on the case,” Suleyman confirmed.
