Microsoft has announced that it will start adding a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard. It will be the first major change to the standard keyboard layout in 30 years. The company will replace the right Windows key with Copilot providing a one-click access to Microsoft’s AI chatbot.
Ever since ChatGPT started gaining popularity, Microsoft has been ambitious for its AI-powered assistant. The company has even integrated Copilot into Office 365, which is one of Microsoft’s top consumer products. However, Copilot is often overshadowed by ChatGPT and even Google Bard.
Microsoft says that AI is a fundamentally powerful tool and must be easily available to users to help them ease their tasks. The company also shared its aim to adapt to the new technology across all of its products.
The Copilot key will be added to Microsoft’s Surface laptops and will also make its way to computers and desktops from other brands. The company says that the initial batch of Windows 11 devices with the Copilot key will be showcased at CES 2024, scheduled for next week.
Copilot is an AI-powered assistant, just like ChatGPT and Google Bard. It was earlier known as Bing Chat and was only available in the Bing browser until Microsoft rebranded it, making it a standalone service. Copilot can also be considered as Microsoft’s redemption for Cortana.
Copilot can solve your queries, assist in creating presentations, help you manage your schedule and meetings, and much more. It has vast applications when using it as an integrated service in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
Microsoft also launched a dedicated app for Copilot on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store, making it accessible on smartphones. It just reflects how ambitious Microsoft is with its AI assistant.
The Copilot app provides free access to GPT-4, which in contrast requires a paid subscription to ChatGPT. However, there are certain limits to the number of daily GPT-4 queries, after which it shifts to the standard GPT 3.5. It also includes limited access to DALL-E 3, an AI-powered text-to-image generator.
The introduction of a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard will provide a much-needed push to the service. The company’s decision to swap the right Windows key is also a wise one, as most users predominantly use the left Windows key for shortcuts. However, the new Copilot key could also take some time to get used to for customers.
