NEW YORK, Oct 2: Microsoft has updated its consumer Copilot, an artificial intelligence assistant, to have a friendlier voice and the ability to analyze web pages as users browse. The U.S. software giant now employs "an entire army" of creative directors, including psychologists, novelists, and comedians, to refine the tone and style of Copilot, according to Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, in an interview with Reuters.

In a demonstration of the updated Copilot, a user asked for a housewarming gift suggestion at a grocery store for a friend who does not drink wine. After some discussion, Copilot responded, "Italian (olive) oils are the hot stuff right now. Tuscan's my go-to. Super peppery."

The rollout of this feature began on Tuesday and is one of the first initiatives Suleyman has overseen since Microsoft established his division in March to focus on consumer products and technology research. While Microsoft has historically been associated with business software, it has faced challenges in the consumer market. For example, its Bing search engine remains significantly smaller than Google.

Suleyman aims for Copilot to make a notable impact, especially following its launch last year amidst a competitive landscape of AI chatbots, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. The updated Copilot features enhanced voice capabilities that allow it to function as a more active listener, incorporating verbal cues like "cool" and "huh," according to Suleyman.

The underlying technology of Copilot includes Microsoft AI (MAI) models along with a suite from partner OpenAI. Suleyman mentioned that consumers who subscribe to Copilot Pro for $20 monthly can begin testing a feature called "Think Deeper," which helps users reason through decisions, such as choosing between two cities.

Another feature available to paying subscribers, called Copilot Vision, offers "digital pointing," enabling users to discuss what they see while using the Microsoft Edge browser. Microsoft assures that users must opt-in, and the content they view will not be saved or used for AI training.

These updates represent "glimmers" of AI that could serve as an "ever-present confidant," Suleyman noted, a vision he previously expressed as CEO of Inflection AI, which attracted top talent that Microsoft recently recruited in a high-profile deal.

Suleyman added that, with permission, Copilot will eventually learn context from users' Word documents, Windows desktops, and even gaming consoles. When asked about Bill Gates' views on the company's AI initiatives, Suleyman reported that Gates is enthusiastic. "He's always asking me about when Copilot can read and parse his emails. It's one of his favorite ones," Suleyman shared. "We're on the case."