From Copilot to AI chips: Microsoft's Ignite 2023 redefines possibilities for Windows PC users

In a groundbreaking event, Microsoft unveiled a host of new features and services for Windows PC users at Ignite 2023 (an annual developer & IT professional conference held by Microsoft). These additions showcase enhanced AI capabilities, promising a more seamless and productive experience for users across various Microsoft platforms.

Copilot: Making work smarter for everyone

One of the major highlights is the expanded availability of Copilot, a generative AI-powered assistant that was previously exclusive to Microsoft 365 enterprise users. Now, it's open to the general public, bringing its productivity-boosting features to a broader audience.

The rebranding of Bing Chat to Copilot and Bing Chat Enterprise to Copilot Pro further emphasises Microsoft's commitment to an integrated and intelligent user experience.

Bing Chat is now Copilot and works on Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari and soon on mobile. #MSIgnite pic.twitter.com/m4P3YzdWxL

— Microsoft (@Microsoft) November 15, 2023

According to Microsoft's own statistics, a significant 70 percent of Copilot users reported increased productivity, while 68 percent claimed an improvement in the quality of their work. The tool has evidently jumpstarted creative processes for 68 percent of users, underscoring its impact on fostering innovation.

Teams 2.0

Microsoft has also introduced an upgraded version of Teams, featuring a fresh user interface. This revamped team brings forth several exciting features, including live-translated transcripts, portrait blur, collaborative notes, and an enhanced channel experience. These improvements aim to make collaboration more effective and communication more seamless for Teams users.

Earlier this year, we introduced the new Microsoft Teams. #MSIgnite pic.twitter.com/UbTTvQouQW — Microsoft (@Microsoft) November 15, 2023

AI chip innovation

Breaking new ground, Microsoft has announced its first AI chip, the Microsoft Azure Maia AI Accelerator. Optimised for generative AI tasks, this chip will play a crucial role in powering services like Microsoft Copilot and Azure OpenAI Service within Microsoft data centres.

Additionally, the company has introduced the Microsoft Azure Cobalt CPU based on Arm architecture, further enhancing the capabilities of AI in its ecosystem.

We are announcing new innovations across our datacenter fleet, including the latest AI optimized silicon from our industry partners and two new Microsoft-designed chips. #MSIgnite https://t.co/5488N3pkKG pic.twitter.com/XeO0PDHAiR

— Microsoft (@Microsoft) November 15, 2023

Azure enhancements

Azure is set to receive a significant upgrade with the addition of AMD MI300X accelerated virtual machines (VMs), specifically designed to handle AI workloads such as model training and generative inferencing.

Furthermore, Microsoft is introducing a model-as-a-service solution, enabling partners to seamlessly integrate the latest generative AI models into their services. Users of the Azure OpenAI platform can also look forward to accessing the latest GPT-4 Turbo starting in December via public preview.

Microsoft Planner revamped

In a bid to empower developers, Microsoft has introduced Copilot Studio, a low-code solution harnessing the capabilities of generative AI. This tool, integrated with Microsoft 365, facilitates collaboration and co-creation of products and services, ushering in a new era of development.

Lastly, the Microsoft Planner Experience platform has been revamped, consolidating the capabilities of Planner, To Do, and Project into one comprehensive solution. With the added generative AI capability, users can expect a more streamlined and efficient planning experience.