Microsoft Copilot AI gets voice and vision; now also available for WhatsApp: Technology news

Microsoft Copilot AI gets voice and vision; now also available for WhatsApp: Technology news



Microsoft has announced several new Copilot AI features, including Gemini Live-like Copilot Voice and deeper integration into the Edge web browser. The company also introduced experimental features for Copilot AI, allowing the chatbot to understand what’s on your screen (on-screen contextual understanding) and providing better reasoning for more complex queries.


The new Copilot experience is rolling out to iOS and Android, as well as Windows and Copilot on the web. Additionally, Copilot is now available on Meta’s instant messaging platform WhatsApp. Users can access Copilot in WhatsApp through Microsoft’s website: Microsoft Copilot on WhatsApp.

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Microsoft Copilot: What’s new


Copilot Voice: Microsoft is rolling out four voice options for the Copilot AI chatbot. The new voice feature enables users to engage in more natural conversations with Copilot AI, allowing them to brainstorm ideas, ask questions, or hold long discussions. From the preview shown by Microsoft, the feature resembles Google Gemini Live and ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode.


The feature currently works only in English and is available in select regions, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.


Copilot Daily: The new Copilot Daily feature will provide summaries of news and weather, presented using the preferred Copilot Voice. Microsoft stated that this feature will only source data from authorised content providers and partner platforms, such as Reuters, Financial Times, Hearst Magazines, and more. Additionally, Copilot Daily will soon include options like reminders.


The feature is initially rolling out in the US and the UK, with plans for expansion to more regions.


Discover: Copilot will introduce a new Discover section where personalised ideas will be presented as cards. Microsoft noted that these cards will serve as conversation starters with the AI chatbot. For example, the Discover section will feature cards about skills you could learn, topics that might interest you, and more.


Copilot in Microsoft Edge: Microsoft has further integrated Copilot AI into its Edge web browser. Users will be able to utilise the AI chatbot to summarise page content, translate text, or rewrite sentences, all within the browser. Users can also type “@copilot” in the address bar to access the AI chatbot in Edge.


Copilot Vision: Currently available as an opt-in experimental feature in Copilot Labs, Copilot Vision can understand elements of the webpage you are viewing, including images and text. Users can receive real-time answers to queries based on what is displayed on their device. Microsoft stated that Vision currently works only with select websites and will not function on paywalled or sensitive content.


This feature is accessible in the US to select Copilot Pro subscribers in Copilot Labs.


Think Deeper: Similar to Copilot Vision, Think Deeper is an experimental feature available in Copilot Labs. This feature enables the AI chatbot to reason through more complex queries. Microsoft indicated that with the Think Deeper feature, the AI chatbot will take longer than usual to respond to questions and will be able to make suggestions and offer comparisons between two options.


Think Deeper is available to Copilot Pro users in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US in Copilot Labs.

First Published: Oct 02 2024 | 10:56 AM IST



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Google explores background play for YouTube TV on Android and iOS: Report: Technology news

Google explores background play for YouTube TV on Android and iOS: Report: Technology news


youtube(Photo: Shutterstock)


YouTube offers the background play feature to Premium subscribers, allowing users to continue listening to a video after leaving the app or locking their device. However, this feature did not work on YouTube TV or Google’s live TV service until now. It is expected that the feature will soon be available for the YouTube TV app.


Allison Toh, product communications manager at YouTube, confirmed to The Verge that the video streaming site is experimenting with bringing background playback to YouTube TV for Android and iOS mobile users. This experiment is currently available to a select group of users.

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Reports from Reddit indicate that the playback feature is now accessible on Android, according to 9to5Google. Google has been gradually introducing the feature to YouTube TV, and it is reportedly functioning on Android devices, although it is not yet operational on iOS.


The YouTube Help page states: “Play videos on your mobile device while using other apps or when your screen is off. Background play is available on YouTube, YouTube Music, and YouTube Kids mobile apps (if these apps are available in your location) when you’re signed in with your YouTube Premium membership account.”


As stated above, the background playback is currently not available for YouTube TV to everyone. Once available, it is expected to work similar to other YouTube platforms. The feature is slowly rolling out and may become widely available in the upcoming days.


How to customise or turn off background play:


Background play is accessible on YouTube mobile apps when you’re logged in with your YouTube Premium account. By default, videos will continuously play in the background.


To customise this feature:


Click on your profile picture and navigate to Settings.


Choose “Background & downloads,” and then select “Playback.”


Choose your option:


Always on: Videos will continuously play in the background (this is the default setting).


Headphones or external speakers: Videos will play in the background only when your device is connected to headphones, speakers, or an external audio output.


Off: Videos will not play in the background at all.

First Published: Oct 02 2024 | 10:49 AM IST



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Apple readies new iPhone SE that kills home button with edge-to-edge screen

Apple readies new iPhone SE that kills home button with edge-to-edge screen


Apple’s M2 iPad Air | Image: Bloomberg


Apple Inc., fresh off the release of the iPhone 16, is preparing to announce a new low-end phone early next year alongside upgraded iPads. 


The company is nearing production of an updated iPhone SE — codenamed V59 — that will become its new entry-level model, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Apple is also aiming to manufacture new iPad Air models and keyboards for release around the same time, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public.

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The release will mark the first update to the iPhone SE since 2022, when Apple added 5G capability to the device. With the latest model, Apple will move away from the old home button design and transition to an edge-to-edge screen. 


The SE overhaul will help Apple compete in the low-end smartphone market, where it faces tough competition from Android devices — especially in China. The current model costs $429, which is hundreds less than the standard iPhone but more expensive than many of its rivals. Modernizing the SE so it looks more like its higher-end siblings should help entice budget-minded shoppers and potentially win back market share lost to brands such as Huawei and Xiaomi.

 


The new SE phone is expected to support Apple Intelligence, an upcoming suite of AI tools that will also work with the iPhone 16 and the high-end versions of last year’s iPhone 15. The new model will resemble the iPhone 14, including the notch cutout at the top. The current SE more closely resembles the iPhone 8, the last standard version to include a home button. 


A spokesperson for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment.


The new iPad Air models — codenamed J607 and J637 — will focus on internal improvements. Apple also is preparing an updated version of its Magic Keyboard accessory, codenamed R307 and R308, for both the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the new Air. These will bring some of the features of the iPad Pro keyboard down-market. 


Earlier this year, Apple updated the Air lineup with an M2 chip and added the 13-inch screen option. A new iPad mini — codenamed J410 — is coming too, potentially by the end of 2024.


A revamped version of the iPad Pro was released at the same time as this year’s iPad Air, but that higher-end device includes an M4 processor that has yet to come to other models. That means an update is less urgent given the chip is already a generation ahead.

Beyond the new iPhone SE and iPads, Apple is also refreshing its Mac computer lineup. Updated models this year will include a revamped Mac mini as well as updated MacBook Pros and iMacs. They’ll sport the M4 processor and highlight Apple Intelligence features. The M4 chip will come to the MacBook Air, Mac Studio and Mac Pro during 2025.


(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Oct 02 2024 | 8:22 AM IST



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Zoom taps Microsoft veteran Michelle Chang for chief financial officer role

Zoom taps Microsoft veteran Michelle Chang for chief financial officer role


The efforts are paying off as the company last month raised its annual revenue forecast. Photo: Bloomberg


Zoom Video Communications on Tuesday named veteran Microsoft executive Michelle Chang as its chief financial officer, effective Oct. 7.


Chang, who joined the tech giant in April 2000, was most recently the CFO of Microsoft’s Commercial Sales & Partner Organization. She will report to Zoom founder and CEO Eric Yuan.

 

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She will succeed Kelly Steckelberg whose resignation was announced in August. Steckelberg, who will continue in an advisory capacity until the announcement of third-quarter results, led the company through its successful IPO in 2019.

 


San Jose, California-based Zoom has been bolstering its for video-conferencing products with artificial intelligence to leverage hybrid work requirements across businesses.

 

 


The efforts are paying off as the company last month raised its annual revenue forecast.

First Published: Oct 01 2024 | 8:46 PM IST



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Tech wrap Oct 1: Lava Agni 3, OnePlus 13, Gemini Live, Samsung AI, and more

Tech wrap Oct 1: Lava Agni 3, OnePlus 13, Gemini Live, Samsung AI, and more



The Indian smartphone brand Lava has revealed a special launch event on October 4 for the introduction of the Agni 3 smartphone. In preparation for the launch, the company has disclosed several key specifications, including processor details and new features. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lava also confirmed that the Agni 3 will be priced under Rs 30,000.

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China’s OnePlus is anticipated to unveil its next flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 13, in October. The company has reportedly begun teasing the design of the device ahead of its launch. According to a report from GizmoChina, Louis Lee, President of OnePlus China, shared the first look of the smartphone on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.

 


Google has initiated the rollout of Gemini Live to Android users without any subscription requirement, introducing 10 new voices. Originally launched for Gemini Advanced subscribers in August, it is now fully accessible to all English users.


Samsung’s suite of AI features, referred to as “Galaxy AI,” could potentially transition to a paid service by the end of next year. Although the company has not explicitly confirmed this, there have been indications that certain Galaxy AI features on its devices may soon be offered behind a paywall.


Secure Connection, a Hong Kong-based electronics manufacturer, has launched a new range of Honeywell-branded air purifiers in India. The Air Touch V1 and Air Touch V5 models come with advanced filtration systems and user-friendly functions, such as filter change indicators and reset buttons. The company claims that both purifiers have a filter life of up to 9,000 hours, or one year, and they are accompanied by a two-year warranty.


The Google Pixel 9a is anticipated to launch in 2025 alongside four other new Pixel devices. CAD-based renders of the Pixel 9a have emerged online, as reported by the consumer technology news platform Android Headlines. According to the report, the upcoming Pixel 9a will move away from the visor design for the camera housing that has become a signature look for Google.


Apple has been enhancing its second-generation AirPods Pro, with the latest addition being features related to hearing aids. Meanwhile, the third-generation model is reportedly in development and may provide significant upgrades. Scheduled for a 2025 launch, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 is expected to expand upon the health-related features introduced in the second generation and could be the company’s first audio product to incorporate Apple Intelligence.


Google is reportedly exploring a method to enable users to search for any video through Circle to Search. Currently, users can search for a video recording using Lens with AI Overview, and YouTube users can utilise Gemini’s “ask about the video” feature. Technology news site Android Authority discovered references to a new video search method while reviewing updates in version 15.39.39.29.arm64 of the Google Android app.


The Motorola Razr 50 delivers a well-optimised foldable smartphone experience at a competitive price. However, for those seeking a more comprehensive package, the Razr 50 Ultra would be a superior choice.


The 88-year-old designer, renowned for books such as The Design of Everyday Things, Emotional Design, and Design for a Better World, was in India as an advisor to BITS Design School, Mumbai, during a tour across three cities.


Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, has urged users to limit their use of bold fonts in posts. This directive follows Musk’s expressed frustration regarding the excessive use of this feature, stating that it diminishes the overall appeal and readability of content on the platform.


On Tuesday, Google announced that its investments in Malaysia are projected to create 26,500 jobs and contribute over $3 billion to the country’s economy by 2030, coinciding with the groundbreaking of its new data centre and Cloud region.


On Tuesday, Meta Platforms announced plans to increase its investment in artificial intelligence innovation in Vietnam, which includes the production of its latest mixed reality headsets starting in 2025. This initiative is part of its strategy to bolster its presence in the country.

First Published: Oct 01 2024 | 8:03 PM IST



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Microsoft revamps AI Copilot with new voice and reasoning capabilities

Microsoft revamps AI Copilot with new voice and reasoning capabilities



Microsoft has given its consumer Copilot, an artificial intelligence assistant, a more amiable voice in its latest update, with the chatbot also capable of analyzing web pages for interested users as they browse.


The U.S. software maker now has “an entire army” of creative directors – among them psychologists, novelists and comedians – finessing the tone and style of Copilot to distinguish it, Mustafa Suleyman, chief executive of Microsoft AI, told Reuters in an interview.

 

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In one demonstration of the updated Copilot, a consumer asked what housewarming gift to buy at a grocery store for a friend who did not drink wine. After some back-and-forth, Copilot said aloud: “Italian (olive) oils are the hot stuff right now. Tuscan’s my go-to. Super peppery.” The feature rollout, starting Tuesday, is one of the first that Suleyman has overseen since Microsoft created his division in March to focus on consumer products and technology research.

 

 


Long identified with business software, Microsoft has had a much harder road in the consumer realm. Its Bing search engine, for instance, is still dwarfed by Google.

 


Suleyman is hoping for a bigger splash with Copilot, which launched last year in a crowded field of AI chatbots, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

 


Copilot’s newly fashioned voice capabilities make it seem much more of an active listener, giving verbal cues like “cool” and “huh,” Suleyman said.

 


Underlying the product are Microsoft AI, or “MAI,” models, plus a technology suite from partner OpenAI, Suleyman said.


Suleyman added that consumers who spend $20 monthly for Copilot Pro can start testing a “Think Deeper” feature that reasons through choices, like whether to move to one city or another.

 


He said an additional test feature for paying subscribers, Copilot Vision, amounts to “digital pointing” – the ability for users to talk to AI about what they see in a Microsoft Edge browser. Consumers have to opt in, and the content they view will not be saved or used to train AI, Microsoft said.

 


These updates represent “glimmers” of AI that can be an “ever-present confidant, in your corner,” Suleyman said. It’s a vision he articulated as CEO of Inflection AI, whose top talent Microsoft poached in a closely watched deal this year.


Suleyman said that eventually, Copilot will learn context from consumers’ Word documents, Windows desktops, even their gaming consoles if they grant permission.

 


Asked what Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder, thinks of the company’s AI efforts, Suleyman said Gates was excited.


“He’s always asking me about when Copilot can read and parse his emails. It’s one of his favorite ones,” Suleyman said.


“We’re on the case.”

First Published: Oct 01 2024 | 7:42 PM IST



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