Microsoft announced the expansion of access to the Microsoft 365 Copilot preview, along with the introduction of new features for their AI-powered assistance platform.
This move comes as part of Microsoft's ongoing efforts to enhance the capabilities of popular applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Microsoft Teams, by incorporating generative AI technology.
Earlier this year, Microsoft introduced Microsoft 365 Copilot, which aims to revolutionize the way people work by harnessing the power of AI. The recent expansion allows more users to experience the benefits of this tool.
New Capabilities to Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Viva
1. Copilot in Whiteboard: It aims to enhance Microsoft Teams meetings and brainstorms with Copilot in Whiteboard.
2. Copilot in PowerPoint: DALL-E image generator is integrated into Copilot in PowerPoint. It allows users to request custom images that are relevant to their presentations.
3. Copilot in Outlook: It helps improve email writing in Outlook. It also provides coaching tips and suggestions on clarity, sentiment, and tone for more effective communication.
4. Copilot in OneNote: It uses prompts to create plans, ideas, and lists and easily find information.
5. Copilot in Viva Learning: It uses a chat interface to design upskilling paths, discover learning resources, and schedule training.
Microsoft is rolling out the Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program, providing exclusive access to 600 enterprise customers worldwide. This invitation-only paid preview program offers a sneak peek into the innovative capabilities of Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Read Also: Microsoft Introduces Bing Chat, Features More than AI Text Generation, Available for Open Preview
2023 Work Trend Index Report
The expansion comes on the heels of the release of Microsoft's 2023 Work Trend Index report titled "Will AI Fix Work?" The report sheds light on the challenges faced in the modern workplace due to the accelerated pace of work, which often surpasses human capacity.
The introduction of next-generation AI through Microsoft 365 Copilot seeks to alleviate these challenges and help organizations.
The report outlines three key insights for business leaders considering the adoption of AI in their organizations. Firstly, digital debt emerges as a hindrance to innovation, with the sheer volume of data, emails, and chats overwhelming employees' ability to process information effectively.
Secondly, the report reveals an emerging alliance between employees and AI, where the promise of relief from mundane tasks outweighs concerns about job displacement. Rather than replacing employees, managers seek to empower them by leveraging AI assistance.
A significant 70% of individuals surveyed expressed a willingness to delegate tasks to AI, providing a clear indication of their eagerness to reduce workloads.
Lastly, the report emphasizes the importance of AI aptitude for all employees, not just AI experts. As the AI era unfolds, core competencies such as prompt engineering become essential in day-to-day operations.
The report states that business leaders anticipate a significant demand for new AI-centric skills among employees, with the number of AI-related job postings on LinkedIn in the US mentioning GPT experiencing a substantial 79% year-over-year increase as of March 2023.
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