Microsoft has updated its consumer AI assistant, Copilot, giving it a friendlier voice and the ability to analyse web pages while users browse. This enhancement is part of a broader initiative led by Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, who noted that a diverse team of creative professionals, including psychologists and comedians, is refining Copilot’s tone and style to set it apart in the crowded AI market.
In a demonstration of the upgraded Copilot, the AI suggested a housewarming gift by recommending popular olive oils after engaging in a conversation about the user’s preferences. This update, which started rolling out on Tuesday, marks one of the initial efforts from Suleyman’s newly established division dedicated to consumer products and technology research.
Although Microsoft is well-known for its business software, it is encountering significant competition in the consumer market, particularly from Google’s search engine. Launched last year, Copilot seeks to attract more users with its improved voice capabilities, making interactions feel more engaging and responsive. New features for Copilot Pro subscribers, such as ‘Think Deeper,’ will enable users to assess their options, while the upcoming ‘Copilot Vision’ function will allow users to interact with content in their Microsoft Edge browser without retaining any data.
Suleyman envisions Copilot as a digital companion that continuously learns from users’ interactions across different Microsoft platforms, such as Word and Windows, with their consent. He noted that Bill Gates is excited about the AI’s capabilities, especially the potential for Copilot to read and parse emails, suggesting that these features are on the horizon.
A diverse group of academics will lead the drafting of a Code of Practice on general-purpose AI (GPAI). The Code is crucial for AI systems like ChatGPT and will outline the AI Act’s risk management and transparency requirements. The list of leaders includes renowned AI expert Yoshua Bengio and a range of other professionals with expertise in technical, legal, and social aspects of AI.
The announcement follows concerns from three influential MEPs who questioned the timing and international expertise of the working group leaders. Despite these concerns, the group comprises academics and researchers from institutions across the globe. The Code’s first draft is expected in November, with a workshop for GPAI providers scheduled in mid-October.
Yoshua Bengio, often called a ‘godfather of AI,’ will chair the group for technical risk mitigation. Other notable figures include law professor Alexander Peukert and AI governance expert Marietje Schaake. The working groups will address various aspects of risk management and transparency in AI development.
The EU AI Act will heavily rely on the Code of Practice until official standards are finalised by 2026. Leaders in AI and related fields are expected to shape guidelines that support innovation while ensuring AI safety.
Microsoft is introducing AI-powered updates for its Paint and Photos apps, available on Copilot Plus PCs. The new features, Generative Fill and Generative Erase, are designed to simplify image editing without requiring professional software. These tools allow users to remove or add elements to images easily, much like advanced functions in Adobe Photoshop.
Generative Fill and Erase come with adjustable brushes for precise editing. Generative Erase is ideal for removing unwanted objects, while Generative Fill enables users to add AI-created elements by typing a description. These new functions are similar to popular features like Google’s Magic Eraser.
The new tools are an expansion of Microsoft’s Cocreator feature for Paint, launched earlier this year. Cocreator generates images using text prompts and sketches. Microsoft has also upgraded the diffusion-based model behind these tools to improve speed and output quality, while adding moderation features to avoid misuse.
Microsoft’s Photos app will now include Generative Erase and a Super-Resolution feature. The latter uses AI to enhance blurry images, allowing users to boost image resolution up to eight times, with options for fine-tuning the result using a slider.
Microsoft has officially launched ‘Bing Generative Search,’ a new AI-powered feature that generates summaries of search results, aiming to enhance how users interact with search engines. After a pilot in July, the feature is now being rolled out to US users. To try it, users can search “Bing generative search,” or trigger it through informational queries. Bing generative search uses a blend of AI models to compile information from across the web, offering an easy-to-read summary alongside traditional search links.
This feature evolves from Bing’s AI chat integration launched in February 2023, but now provides search results in a fresh, AI-generated format that aims to better fulfill user intent. For example, a search like ‘What’s a spaghetti western?’ would display a detailed overview of the genre’s history and examples, accompanied by relevant sources. However, users can opt out of the AI summaries if they prefer traditional search results.
While Microsoft promises that Bing’s AI-powered search still maintains website traffic, concerns have risen across the industry. Competitor Google’s AI Overviews have already been criticized for diverting traffic from publishers and, at times, delivering inaccurate results. Although Bing holds a smaller portion of the global search market compared to Google, Microsoft is keen to monitor the impact of generative AI on web traffic.
Pinterest has introduced new generative AI features for its advertisers, enhancing the functionality of its Performance+ suite during the recent Pinterest Presents event. This update allows advertisers to transform plain backgrounds into engaging lifestyle imagery, helping to boost the appeal of their product pins. Pinterest’s move follows similar offerings from major tech companies like Google and Amazon, which have also adopted generative AI to improve advertising effectiveness.
In tests with Walgreens, an early user of Pinterest’s generative AI, the drugstore chain experienced a 55% increase in clickthrough rates and a 13% decrease in cost-per-click when using AI-generated backgrounds. Pinterest claims its new tools will streamline campaign creation, requiring 50% less input from advertisers and potentially leading to a 64% reduction in cost per action and a 30% rise in conversion rates.
Additionally, Pinterest is rolling out new promotional tools that will allow advertisers to offer discounts to users in various countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Japan. The platform is also enhancing its Performance+ bidding system to prioritise high-value conversions rather than clicks, thereby providing advertisers with greater flexibility in achieving their marketing goals. All global advertisers will now have access to these improved Performance+ campaigns, aimed at driving consideration, conversions, and catalogue sales.
Malaysian tech firm Dagang NeXchange Berhad (DNeX) and Google Cloud have signed a multi-year agreement to provide sovereign cloud services in Malaysia. That partnership aims to meet the country’s growing demand for secure and compliant cloud solutions, particularly in regulated sectors such as public services, finance, healthcare, and energy. The collaboration will allow DNeX to operate Google Distributed Cloud, which offers ‘air-gapped’ solutions that can run without an internet connection, ensuring strict data privacy and residency.
This deal follows Google’s announcement in May to invest $2 billion in its first data center and Google Cloud region in Malaysia. The partnership also includes plans to establish an AI centre of excellence designed to foster local talent in AI. Both companies aim to drive digital transformation in Malaysia through cutting-edge infrastructure and AI tools.
While the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, Google Cloud’s Vice President for Asia Pacific, Karan Bajwa, emphasised that the deal would empower Malaysian organisations to advance their digital capabilities while maintaining control over their data.
Augmented Intelligence, a new AI startup, has emerged from stealth with $44 million in funding and a bold claim that its AI platform, Apollo, can outperform traditional chatbots by combining symbolic AI and neural networks. While neural networks excel at language generation, symbolic AI uses task-specific rules to solve complex problems. Apollo, the company says, uses both approaches to power more efficient and “agentic” chatbots capable of not just answering questions but performing tasks like booking flights.
CEO Ohad Elhelo argues that most AI models, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, struggle when they need to take actions or rely on external tools. In contrast, Apollo integrates seamlessly with a company’s systems and APIs, eliminating the need for extensive setup. Unlike many competitors, it doesn’t require training on a company’s private data, appealing to businesses concerned about data security. Augmented Intelligence also touts its explainability, offering logs that help companies understand and improve the AI’s performance.
The company has already secured a partnership with Google Cloud and claims its technology outperforms purely neural network-based models. While some of CEO Elhelo’s claims, such as eliminating AI ‘hallucinations’ remain unproven, Augmented Intelligence’s novel approach and recent $350 million valuation highlight growing interest in AI solutions that blend symbolic reasoning with neural processing.
The European Union has chosen a team of AI experts to help shape the guidelines for compliance with its upcoming AI Act. On 30 September 2024, the European Commission convened the first meeting of working groups responsible for drafting a ‘code of practice’ to guide how companies should meet the law’s requirements. The selected experts include figures like AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio, former UK policy adviser Nitarshan Rajkumar, and Marietje Schaake from Stanford University.
These working groups, which also feature representatives from major tech companies such as Google and Microsoft, will address issues like copyright and risk management. Although the code of practice won’t be legally binding, it will serve as a checklist for companies to prove compliance with the AI Act, which takes full effect in 2025. Firms that claim to follow the law but ignore the code may face legal challenges.
A key focus will be on the transparency of AI training data, a contentious issue in the industry. Some AI companies resist sharing details about the data used to train their models, citing trade secrets. The code of practice is expected to clarify how much information companies will need to disclose, with the potential for increased legal scrutiny over the use of copyrighted content.
Malaysia has announced plans to develop a national cloud policy and introduce regulations aimed at promoting the ethical use of AI. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim revealed the initiative as global tech investments in the country have surged in recent years, building essential infrastructure to meet increasing demand for cloud and AI services.
The national cloud policy will focus on public service innovation, economic growth, and enhancing trust in data security. It will also promote digital inclusivity for all citizens. A national AI office will be created to manage these efforts, including a five-year technology plan and a regulatory framework to ensure ethical AI use.
Anwar emphasised Malaysia’s goal of becoming a hub for generative AI, noting that partnerships with tech firms would be vital for constructing a strong digital infrastructure. The announcement was made during a ceremony for Google’s new $2 billion data centre, expected to boost the Malaysian economy.
Google’s investments in the country are projected to create thousands of jobs and contribute over $3 billion by 2030. Malaysia has seen significant economic growth due to digital investments, outperforming market expectations in recent quarters.
Meta is set to expand its presence in Vietnam by increasing investment in AI and manufacturing. Starting in 2025, production of its latest mixed reality headset, the Quest 3S, will move to the country.
The announcement came shortly after Meta’s president for global affairs, Nick Clegg, met with Vietnamese officials. Vietnam is a key market for Meta, with millions of users relying on its social media platform, Facebook.
Meta also supports numerous small businesses in the region. While the size of the investment remains unclear, Meta’s commitment highlights the growing importance of the Vietnamese market for the company.
Additionally, Meta plans to further integrate AI innovations into its platforms. Testing of its Meta AI tool in Vietnamese will begin soon, with a full launch expected by the end of the year.
