Copilot Gains ‘Real Talk’ Mode and Group Chats
▼ Summary
– Microsoft is introducing a Copilot Groups feature that allows up to 32 people to collaborate in a single AI chat session for planning or problem-solving.
– The new “real talk” mode adds personality to Copilot by matching the user’s tone, offering witty responses, and challenging their statements instead of always agreeing.
– Copilot’s memory capabilities are being enhanced to remember personal details about users, their lives, and projects, with full user control to view or delete stored information.
– Health-related responses in Copilot are being improved by sourcing information from trusted providers like Harvard Health and helping users find suitable doctors based on preferences.
– A new Clippy-like character named Mico is being added to Copilot’s voice mode, featuring real-time expressions and a Learn Live tutoring function.
Microsoft has introduced a major update to its Copilot AI assistant, featuring group chat capabilities, a new “real talk” mode, and enhanced memory functions. These additions aim to make the tool more interactive and personalized for users across various scenarios.
A standout feature is Copilot Groups, which allows multiple individuals, such as friends, classmates, or team members, to collaborate in a single AI chat session. Microsoft envisions this as a tool for collective planning and problem-solving, supporting groups of up to 32 participants. Jacob Andreou, CVP of product and growth at Microsoft AI, anticipates that smaller groups of two or three will likely use the feature most frequently, rather than large, ongoing group chats. While the concept seems well-suited to professional environments, Copilot Groups is initially launching only in the U.S. consumer version of Copilot, not the Microsoft 365 Copilot for businesses. Andreou notes, however, that bringing such experiences into Microsoft 365 will be important in the future.
Another significant addition is the optional “real talk” mode, designed to make Copilot’s responses more dynamic and engaging. This mode adapts to the user’s tone, offers its own perspective, and can be witty or challenging rather than simply agreeing. It echoes some of the personality seen in Copilot’s earlier iteration, known as Sydney, though without reviving its more controversial traits. Real talk will be available as a selectable option in a dropdown menu and is limited to text interactions, not voice mode.
These conversational improvements are supported by upgrades to Copilot’s memory. The assistant will now retain details about users’ lives, interests, and projects, allowing for more contextually relevant interactions. Users maintain control over this information: they can view everything Copilot remembers and delete specific details as needed. Andreou mentions that future updates may allow users to manage memory conversationally, such as instructing Copilot via voice to forget certain information.
Health-related queries are also receiving attention, with Copilot now sourcing answers from trusted providers like Harvard Health and assisting users in finding suitable healthcare professionals based on location, language, and preferences.
Additionally, Microsoft is refreshing Copilot’s voice mode with Mico, a new animated character reminiscent of Clippy. Mico displays real-time expressions and moves around the Copilot window, accompanied by a Learn Live mode that functions as an educational tutor. These features aim to create a more visually engaging and supportive user experience.
(Source: The Verge)
