Microsoft AI Assistants
Artificial Intelligence (AI) assistants with “really good long-term memory” could be available within a year, according to Mustafa Suleyman, Microsoft’s head of AI. In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Suleyman stated that these AI products will be able to recall conversations, projects, and problems, encouraging users to share more personal information and invest more time with them.
“I think we’re moving to a fundamentally new age where there will be ever-present, persistent, very capable co-pilot companions in your everyday life,” he added.
Concerns About Integration
While AI assistants promise to become integral parts of daily life, critics have raised concerns over issues such as data security, privacy, AI tools giving bad advice, and the possibility of built-in biases. These fears stem from the high level of integration needed for the technology to be truly effective.
Supporters Argue Deep Integration Is Key
AI supporters argue that these tools must be deeply embedded in our lives to be truly useful. For instance, an AI diary manager would need access to and knowledge of a user’s schedule to organize it effectively. Understanding personal context and history is key to delivering meaningful assistance.
Changing Expectations of Privacy
Suleyman pointed out that privacy expectations have evolved over time. He noted that everyday devices such as TVs, laptops, phones, and even in-car cameras are already recording continuously in ordinary environments. He referenced the iPhone’s Live View feature, which simultaneously captures video and audio when a photo is taken.
“Most people love that feature,” Suleyman said. “Some people turn it off, but that’s a very distinct shift in the default expectation of what a photo is.”
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The growing acceptance of such technology, Suleyman added, depends on users’ sense of control over their data and their trust in the providers.
Is AI a Game-Changer or a Bubble?
Microsoft has invested billions of dollars in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, positioning itself as a leader in the competitive AI race. However, research indicates that people are not yet using these tools consistently. A poll by the Reuters Institute in August found that while 29% of people in the UK had used ChatGPT, only 2% used it daily.
Suleyman acknowledged that consumer AI tools may not achieve the same level of global popularity as smartphones. “Maybe this is different to the smartphone,” he said. “Nearly 90% of the planet has a smartphone. Maybe that will be different. Maybe 50% will reject [AI tools].”
Despite this, Suleyman emphasized that AI remains the fastest-growing technology in history, surpassing adoption rates of previous technologies.
AI Is Not a Bubble, Says Suleyman
Suleyman rejected the idea that AI might turn out to be a bubble, a concern raised by many industry experts, including Jim Covello, head of stock research at Goldman Sachs. He shared a story about a woman who set up her business using guidance from an AI chatbot called Pi, developed by Suleyman.
“We are clearly producing personalized, interactive knowledge at your fingertips at zero marginal cost,” he said. “The idea that this could be a bubble is utterly beyond me.”
Microsoft’s New AI Tools
Microsoft has announced several new additions to its AI assistant range, CoPilot, including voice functionality, a daily news digest, and a slower chatbot for complex or in-depth questions called “Think Deeper.”
The update also features CoPilot Vision, a tool that will be integrated into the Edge web browser. Vision, when activated, will observe web pages and assist users with online activities. Microsoft assures users that Vision will not record or store data, and it must be manually switched on. The tool will close at the end of each browser session. The company has also chosen to limit the websites it will work with, and there is no release date yet.
Recall Tool Set for Relaunch
Earlier this year, Microsoft paused the release of an AI tool called Recall, which takes screenshots every few seconds to help users revisit tasks or pages they were working on. The decision came after privacy campaigners raised concerns, prompting enquiries from the UK’s data watchdog.
Microsoft plans to re-launch Recall in November, with added security measures to address privacy concerns.
