We can say that Microsoft has completely reinvented itself since the popularization of generative AI. Thanks to its investment in OpenAI, the company can use the same ChatGPT language models in its own assistant, Copilot, and has used this as the basis for its new trajectory as an AI company. We are already seeing this in the latest news regarding Windows 11, and today it is the turn of productivity and office platforms.
Today it’s Microsoft Ignite, and as it couldn’t be otherwise, Copilot’s AI has taken center stage; in fact, the company has announced no less than 80 new products and features, and they all have something to do with AI. It is obvious that this is the company’s great hope, and for the moment, the bet has paid off: we specify that nearly 70% of Fortune 500 companies already use Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft 365 is precisely the platform that brings the most new features, and most of them are designed to save time and reduce workload; although, as before, the company has avoided talking about the effects this could have on workers’ job security. Instead, he focused on explaining how AI can reduce administrative work, so employees can focus on other things like “spending more time with customers.”
An example of this philosophy is the Co-pilot actionswhich are essentially AI-based automations; In other words, we can let AI perform automatic tasks that do not require our attention, such as writing the daily summary of meetings in Microsoft Teams, compiling weekly reports or receiving an email after returning from vacation summarizing this that happened. we were gone. Copilot actions are configured in the Microsoft 365 app, where agents can also be activated.
An agent is an AI that specializes in a specific task, instead of offering answers to everything like Copilot does. On this occasion, Microsoft announced agents in SharePoint that use the contents of files and folders to answer questions and make faster decisions. It also has an interpreter, who can translate meetings in real time, and who can even imitate our voice for participants who do not speak our language.
With AI, Microsoft’s other big bet is on the cloud, and the new product it presented demonstrates it. Is called Windows 365 linkand although it looks like a small computer, it’s actually much simpler. This is a device designed to connect to Windows 365, the cloud version of the operating system, without the need for a computer.
The idea of Windows 365 Link is very interesting, since it only costs $349 but allows for an experience similar to that of a traditional desktop computer. When you turn on the device, users will sign in with their Microsoft account and the device will automatically connect to the company’s servers, which are the ones that will actually run Windows.
The machine only receives video and displays it on up to two screens using its HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. Therefore, it does not store any type of data locally, thus avoiding leaks of confidential company data.