Microsoft unveils AI for its office suite in increased competition with Google
MICROSOFT on Thursday (Mar 16) trumpeted its latest plans to put artificial intelligence (AI) into the hands of more users, answering a spate of unveilings this week by its rival Google with upgrades to its own widely used office software.
The company previewed a new AI “copilot” for Microsoft 365, its product suite that includes Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations and Outlook emails.
Going forward, AI can offer a first draft in Microsoft’s applications, speeding up content creation and freeing up workers’ time, the company said.
“We believe this next generation of AI will unlock a new wave of productivity growth,” Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s chief executive, said in a livestreamed presentation.
This week’s drumbeat of news including new funding for AI startup Adept reflects how companies large and small are locked in a fierce competition to deploy software that could reshape how people work. At the centre are Microsoft and Google-owner Alphabet, which on Tuesday touted AI features for Gmail and a “magic wand” to draft prose in its own word processor.
The frenzy to invest in and build new products began with the launch last year of ChatGPT, from the Microsoft-backed startup OpenAI. Chatbot showed the potential of so-called large language models, technology that learns from past data how to create content anew. It is rapidly evolving. Just this week, OpenAI began the release of a more powerful version known as GPT-4. REUTERS
GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Companies & Markets
China’s CICC demotes senior bankers, cuts pay to slash costs
Paramount bidders await word from special committee evaluating options
Stocks to watch: Singtel, Venture Corp, ARA H-Trust, YHI International, LHN
Optus names National Broadband Network’s Stephen Rue as incoming chief
More than 90% of stablecoin transactions aren’t from real users, study finds
RBA to keep key rate at 12-year high as inflation stirs anew