Latest news with #MicrosoftCopilot
Globe and Mail
7 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Should You Buy Microsoft Stock Before July 30?
Key Points Microsoft stock has soared by 20% already this year, and is currently trading at a record high. The company is experiencing significant demand for its growing portfolio of artificial intelligence (AI) products and services. Microsoft will release its latest quarterly report on July 30, and it will be packed with important updates. 10 stocks we like better than Microsoft › Over the next couple of weeks, many of America's largest technology companies will report their operating results for the recent quarter, which ended on June 30. They will update investors on their financial performance, and also their progress in the artificial intelligence (AI) space, which is creating an incredible amount of value at the moment. For Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), June 30 marked the end of its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and full year, and it's scheduled to report those results on July 30. Investors can look forward to some fresh information on the company's Copilot AI assistant, and its growing portfolio of AI cloud services. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » But Microsoft stock has already rose by 20% this year, and it's starting to look expensive. Should that stop investors from buying it ahead of the upcoming July 30 report? It depends. Copilot adoption will be front and center Using a combination of its own AI models and those developed by its key partner, OpenAI, Microsoft created a powerful virtual assistant called Copilot. It isn't just a stand-alone chatbot like many others in the industry, because it's designed to enhance Microsoft's vast portfolio of software products. Copilot is integrated into Windows, Edge, and Bing where users can access it for free, but it's also available as a paid add-on for other products like the 365 productivity suite. Organizations around the world pay for over 400 million Microsoft 365 licenses to give their employees access to applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Those enterprises can significantly increase their employees' productivity by adding Copilot for an additional monthly fee, because it can instantly generate text and images on command, summarize lengthy emails, and even write computer code. If every enterprise 365 customer added Copilot, it would translate to billions of dollars in additional recurring revenue for Microsoft each month. Mass adoption will take time, but during the fiscal 2025 third quarter (ended March 31), CEO Satya Nadella said the number of organizations using Copilot for 365 tripled compared to the year-ago period. Nadella also said deal size continued to grow because a record number of customers returned to buy more licenses. In other words, organizations seem to be testing Copilot with some of their employees, discovering its value, and then rolling it out more broadly. Investors will be looking for a fresh update on adoption when Microsoft releases its fourth-quarter results on July 30. The company will likely also share an update on other Copilot products. Copilot Studio allows businesses to create custom AI agents capable of handling customer service queries and automating repetitive tasks. It had a record 230,000 enterprise customers at the end of the third quarter. Then there is the Dragon Copilot healthcare solution, which is designed to help doctors track their patients' records more efficiently, saving them time and money. This might be the most important number to watch on July 30 The Azure cloud computing platform is often the fastest-growing part of Microsoft's entire organization, so it's a key point of focus for investors each quarter. AI is playing an increasing role in that growth thanks to an expanding portfolio of new services. Azure AI offers access to the two main ingredients developers need to create AI software: state-of-the-art data center infrastructure, which delivers the required computing capacity, and ready-made large language models (LLMs) from leading third-party developers like OpenAI, which developers can use to speed up their AI software projects. During the fiscal 2025 third quarter, the Azure cloud platform generated year-over-year revenue growth of 33%, of which Azure AI accounted for 16 points. Azure AI's contribution is steadily increasing, and it's on the cusp of becoming the primary growth driver behind the cloud platform: The fourth quarter might be the first time Azure AI contributed more revenue growth than the rest of Azure's cloud services. In my opinion, this is the most important thing for investors to look for on July 30, because it will validate Microsoft's substantial investments in AI. The company's capital expenditures (capex) related to AI data center infrastructure and chips came in at over $60 billion for the first three quarters of fiscal 2025, placing it on track to have spent over $80 billion for the full year. That's a big number, but CFO Amy Hood says Microsoft has a staggering $315 billion order backlog from customers who are waiting for more data centers to come online. On July 30, the company might tell investors it plans to increase its capex spending yet again in fiscal 2026 to serve that demand. Should you buy Microsoft stock before July 30? Microsoft stock isn't cheap right now. On the back of its 20% gain this calendar year, it's now trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio to 39.1, which is a premium to its five-year average of 33.4. With that said, Wall Street's consensus estimate (provided by Yahoo! Finance) suggests Microsoft's earnings per share could jump by 13% in fiscal 2026, placing the stock at a forward P/E ratio of 33.4. That doesn't necessarily make it cheap, but it means investors who are willing to hold the stock for at least the next two years (but preferably five years or more) have reasonable odds of earning a positive return, assuming the company's earnings continue to grow. MSFT PE Ratio data by YCharts So, should investors buy Microsoft stock before July 30? One quarterly result isn't going to change the company's long-term trajectory, so the answer might come down to investors' time horizon. Those who are expecting a short-term gain within the next 12 months might be left disappointed because of the stock's high valuation, which could limit its upside. But as I just mentioned, those who are willing to hold it for the next few years will probably do just fine. Should you invest $1,000 in Microsoft right now? Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Microsoft wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $652,133!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,056,790!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,048% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 180% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 15, 2025
Mint
15 hours ago
- Mint
Portronics launched Bubble 3.0 wireless keyboard at ₹999 in India
Portronics has introduced a new range of wireless keyboard dubbed Bubble 3.0 in India. The keyboard offers to connect with over 4 devices simultaneously, offers a comfortable design, and is built for modern work habits. Users can easily connect the wireless keyboard to any device, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even smart TVs. Bubble 3.0 also comes with a stand that has a padded silicone coating to keep the device in position. Additionally, users can also get access to Microsoft Copilot features, making the Bubble 3.0 a smart wireless keyboard. Know more about what the keyboard has to offer. The Portronics Bubble 3.0 features low-profile keys and an X-structure mechanism for a comfortable and noise-free typing experience. Instead of a traditional square-shaped key, it features a rounded key with a concave shape, which claims to reduce finger strain. Therefore, the keyboard is designed for users who type for long hours. Alongside a comfortable design, it also comes with a dual-height adjustment feature for users to find a comfortable angle. The Bubble 3.0 wireless keyboard offers uninterrupted connectivity with Bluetooth 5.3, enabling users to connect 3 devices wirelessly and one via the 2.4GHz USB receiver. The keyboard is also compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and smart TVs. Therefore, users can easily switch between devices based on requirements and multitasking abilities. It comes in a full keyboard layout that includes a numpad and multimedia keys for quick access to functions. Another standout feature of Bubble 3.0 is that it comes integrated with Microsoft Copilot, enabling users to access AI assistance at their fingertips. Via the keyboard, users can also access its ability to under voice commands, making tasks even easier. Lastly, it comes with a rechargeable battery.
Mint
16 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Portronics launched Bubble 3.0 wireless keyboard at ₹999 in India
Portronics has introduced a new range of wireless keyboard dubbed Bubble 3.0 in India. The keyboard offers to connect with over 4 devices simultaneously, offers a comfortable design, and is built for modern work habits. Users can easily connect the wireless keyboard to any device, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, and even smart TVs. Bubble 3.0 also comes with a stand that has a padded silicone coating to keep the device in position. Additionally, users can also get access to Microsoft Copilot features, making the Bubble 3.0 a smart wireless keyboard. Know more about what the keyboard has to offer. The Portronics Bubble 3.0 features low-profile keys and an X-structure mechanism for a comfortable and noise-free typing experience. Instead of a traditional square-shaped key, it features a rounded key with a concave shape, which claims to reduce finger strain. Therefore, the keyboard is designed for users who type for long hours. Alongside a comfortable design, it also comes with a dual-height adjustment feature for users to find a comfortable angle. The Bubble 3.0 wireless keyboard offers uninterrupted connectivity with Bluetooth 5.3, enabling users to connect 3 devices wirelessly and one via the 2.4GHz USB receiver. The keyboard is also compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and smart TVs. Therefore, users can easily switch between devices based on requirements and multitasking abilities. It comes in a full keyboard layout that includes a numpad and multimedia keys for quick access to functions. Another standout feature of Bubble 3.0 is that it comes integrated with Microsoft Copilot, enabling users to access AI assistance at their fingertips. Via the keyboard, users can also access its ability to under voice commands, making tasks even easier. Lastly, it comes with a rechargeable battery. The Portronics Bubble 3.0 wireless keyboard is priced at Rs. 2999 in India. However, the company has introduced an introductory price of just Rs.999. The keyboard will be available to purchase on the Portronics website, Flipkart, and offline retail stores.
Arabian Post
19 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Top Free AI Tools of 2025
As AI permeates every corner of our digital existence, the rise of genuinely capable yet free tools has become a turning point for professionals, creators, and businesses. What once demanded hefty investment is now within reach of anyone with a connection. A decade ago, free meant basic; today, it signals sophistication—bringing power, polish, and productivity without a price tag. OpenAI's image generator remains a crown jewel in this era. Originally released as DALL‑E 2, it still dominates free toolkits with its ability to produce detailed imagery from simple text prompts. Newer iterations embedded in ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot further enhance those capabilities, allowing users to refine prompts and redraw output in real time—blurring the lines between text‑driven creativity and visual artistry. Praised for realism and intuitive control, this family of tools now offers a seamless experience to craft everything from marketing assets to personal creations. For enthusiasts of photo enhancement, GFP‑GAN shines in revitalizing old or damaged photographs. Its AI‑driven restoration captures clarity and nuance, making it a hidden gem for archivists and hobbyists alike. On the content creation front, Canva's integrated AI Art Generator has become indispensable. It empowers users to whip up designs, social media posts, presentations and more—all guided by AI. Though not as advanced as specialized generators, Canva's blend of ease-of-use and design flexibility makes it perfect for non‑designers. Meanwhile, Copy. ai leads in AI-driven writing. Whether crafting blog content, email drafts, or social captions, its free tier helps overcome writer's block and accelerate content creation—a reliable tool for individuals and small teams alike. ADVERTISEMENT Video content is no longer confined to expensive cameras and editing suites. Lumen5 automates the process by turning text into videos complete with stock footage and voiceover. Its no-frills interface makes video production accessible to anyone, from marketers to family memory keepers. But stepping up to cinematic results are emerging tools like Google's Veo, Runway Gen‑2/3, and OpenAI's Sora. After exhaustive testing, critics recommend platforms like Veo 3 for audio quality and realism, Runway and Kling for motion, and Sora for storytelling—especially for free-tier experimentation. Audio and music enthusiasts find Lalal. ai a standout. Its ability to split vocals from instrumentals via AI makes it perfect for karaoke, remixing, and podcasts. Those seeking generative music need look no further than Udio and Suno, which offer free-tier access to AI‑composed melodies and soundtracks—ideal for multimedia projects, mood tracks, and creative exploration. For creators juggling audio and video, Descript has become essential. By enabling editing through text, removing filler, overdubbing, and cleaning audio, Descript lowers the barrier for amateur podcasters and video streamers—without compromising professional quality. Language and training tools have also reached new heights. Gliglish delivers AI-enhanced language training that helps professionals refine communication and multilingual support. Its free version assists in crafting polished customer service responses and sales pitches. Likewise, DeepL translates with contextual precision—far superior to earlier systems—making it invaluable for global communication. In business settings, several tools shine in free-tier form. Otter. ai delivers real-time transcription and meeting summaries—perfect for journalists, analysts, and busy professionals. Fathom and Reclaim offer AI‑powered meeting assistance and scheduling, smartly identifying priorities and packing calendars to maximize productivity. Taskade transforms project management with collaborative workflows, bots, and visualization—all without a subscription. Browse. ai, meanwhile, is a formidable free option for monitoring competitor websites, tracking prices, and generating market insights. ADVERTISEMENT Newcomers like DeepSeek and Perplexity Assistant have quickly risen to prominence. DeepSeek, launched January 10, 2025, became the top free app on Apple's U. S. store within weeks. Open source and optimized, it's winning users with faster performance and lower latency, though privacy concerns remain. Perplexity's Assistant offers web‑enabled multitasking—search, summarization, multimodal capabilities and even calendar integration—in 15 languages for free. The recently launched Comet browser brings AI brokered research and summary features inside a browsing interface. Underpinning these tools are powerful foundational models. ChatGPT with GPT‑4o remains the most versatile assistant—boosted by multimodal outputs and superior debugging functions. Grok 3 from xAI now challenges that primacy; trained with '10× computing power' and offering reasoning modes it performs well on benchmarks—though occasional controversial missteps raise questions about responsible AI deployment. Google's Gemini 2.5 is another noteworthy rival. Revealed at Google I/O 2025, it brings real-time video analysis, notebook summarization, and a suite of tools like Imagen 4 and Veo 3 into its free mode. Gemini Live allows users to share screens and images for contextual assistance—features previously reserved for premium tiers. Community voice shows the dynamism of customization. Reddit users note that Google's Image FX impresses for realism, while Stable Diffusion models offer control and local freedom. One poster observed: 'chatgpt image results better than anything i can do with flux or comfy'. Still, the distributed nature of free tools means quality varies. Users must refine prompts, manage model limitations, and apply human judgment. Tools like AI detectors continue to struggle, emphasizing that AI-generated content demands critical oversight. What emerges is a landscape rich with free AI options that rival paid suites. Whether you're an investigative journalist seeking transcription, a marketer designing social posts, or a creative building an avatar, no-cost tools offer sophistication once reserved for enterprise budgets. That accessibility changes the game. The overarching trend remains clear: free AI tools now offer professional-grade value across domains—visual art, video, audio, writing, translation, project management, research, and strategic monitoring. Download speeds, model updates, UI polish, and safety nets increasingly match their premium counterparts. Still, responsible use means considering privacy, AI bias, hallucinations, and ethical deployment. As we enter the second half of 2025, this democratisation is only gaining momentum. Foundations like DeepSeek, Perplexity, GPT‑4o, Grok, and Gemini empower developers and users in transparent, collaborative formats. Watching them evolve alongside new innovations will be crucial for shaping how AI augments—rather than replaces—human craft.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Inside the AI boom that's changing how Big Law attorneys work
DLA Piper rolls out Microsoft Copilot firmwide Assess: DLA Piper has defended Microsoft in a defamation suit over AI-generated content and helped OpenAI put forward its views to Congress on how AI should be regulated. It's leaning into the tech internally, too. Danny Tobey, chair of DLA Piper's AI and data analytics practice, said the firm has an internal group of lawyers and technologists who test tools and develop metrics for quality and accuracy. The team runs A/B tests on real cases, comparing results from traditional legal teams against AI-assisted ones to evaluate performance across speed, accuracy, and cost. Apply: Microsoft has highlighted DLA Piper as the first major law firm to adopt Copilot firmwide, after starting with several hundred licenses in late 2023. Lawyers use Copilot within their existing Microsoft 365 apps, Tobey said. Think drafting documents, poring over spreadsheets, and creating PowerPoint slides. For more advanced legal research and analysis, he said, attorneys turn to legal-specific tools like Harvey, CoCounsel, and LexisNexis Protégé. DLA Piper has also developed custom language models to help clients spot compliance risks early, including under laws like the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute. "We've found a number of issues before they metastasized into outright violations," Tobey said, "and that allowed the company to step in and do some education and compliance refreshing before there was a problem." Align: Tobey said the firm provides detailed training for lawyers on how to use its tools. "We train on a per-tool basis because they all have strengths and weaknesses," Tobey said. "If you were a doctor, you would not adopt a new tool without being trained in its limitations." Gibson Dunn pilots ChatGPT Enterprise with its lawyers and staff Assess: Before adopting any tool, Gibson Dunn runs a three-step review process, said Meredith Williams-Range, the firm's chief legal operations officer. Tools must first pass an internal audit covering security, privacy, and risk. Next, they undergo proof-of-concept testing with a small group. Finally, tools must demonstrate real value to lawyers through hands-on use, a process that can take days or, as with a Harvey pilot, stretch over several months. Apply: ChatGPT Enterprise is one tool making its way through Gibson Dunn's internal processes. In June, the firm launched a pilot with more than 500 participants — a mix of lawyers and staff — to put the product through its paces. Williams-Range said she emailed practice group leaders and managing partners around the world, asking them to submit lawyers willing to test the tool. Three days later, 450 people had signed up — more than twice what she expected. Gibson Dunn says it's also evaluating using rival AI models Google Gemini and Claude Enterprise. The firm works with a range of vendors, including Harvey, Thomson Reuters, and Microsoft. Some tools, like Harvey and CoCounsel, are used to support legal work, while Copilot helps with administrative tasks. For more specific use cases, the firm collaborates with developers to build custom workflows tailored to its practices and data, Williams-Range said. Align: The firm's AI policy is reviewed quarterly to stay current with changing regulations, she said. It also includes a procurement playbook with specific terms around security and how it shares learnings about the tools. Gibson Dunn also has a strategic advisory board made up of over 30 partners across offices globally. This brain trust meets monthly to guide policy decisions, debate use cases, and determine whether tools like ChatGPT Enterprise should be limited, expanded, or customized. "Just because we can doesn't mean we should," Williams-Range said, referring to the principle that guides the board's work. Sidley Austin hones prompt engineering skills during associate orientation Assess: Over her 29 years with the firm, corporate lawyer Sharon Flanagan has watched Sidley embrace new tech, but with guardrails in place. The firm formed an AI council with members from its management committee, executive committee, and strategy team to set policies and identify use cases. Sidley typically starts with small-scale rollouts to pilot new tools before expanding. Apply: Sidley has explored a range of AI tools, says Jane Rheem, Sidley's chief data and AI officer — from legal-specific platforms, to broader foundation models, to point solutions that help with timekeeping or narrative writing. The firm declined to identify the AI tools it's testing, saying it doesn't want to endorse products that may not be part of its long-term strategy. Flanagan says uptake has been organic among litigators and corporate and regulatory attorneys. Align: Implementation is only the beginning, Rheem says. The firm tracks usage after deployment, gathering data and feedback from "superusers" — early adopters who experiment broadly and flag where tools are working (or not). Sidley is also focused on making sure its youngest lawyers are fluent in the tools. This year, nearly 300 incoming associates participated in a generative AI hackathon as part of their orientation. Ropes & Gray uses AI tools like Harvey and Hebbia to squeeze more hours out of the day Assess: When Ropes & Gray finds an AI service it likes, Ed Black and the IT and practice technology teams put on their investment banker hats. "We phone them up every few weeks and say, 'Tell us about your updates,'" said Black, the firm's technology strategy leader. Before a tool can move to testing, it must pass a security and risk audit; only "qualified vendors" make it to the next phase. From there, testing is twofold. First, a technical evaluation by the firm's technology team aims to ensure the product works as promised. Then a second round with lawyers examines usability and actual value in practice. Apply: Ropes & Gray rolled out Harvey firmwide in June, after a year of use with a smaller test group, Black said. The firm has also collaborated with Harvey on a "workflow builder" that lets users design and deploy custom agents — software that can carry out tasks on its own. Hebbia, an AI agent company focused on professional services, has proven particularly useful to lawyers like Melissa Bender, a partner in the asset management group and cohead of the private funds practice. When institutional investors need fund documents reviewed, Bender uses Hebbia to extract key terms and speed up summaries. She estimates the process now takes two to three hours, less than what would typically be a 10-hour matter. Align: Black stresses responsible use of the tools, starting with the principle that the results of using these tools are first drafts, not the final product. The private funds practice requires tool-specific training for junior and mid-level associates, Bender says, while more senior lawyers are "strongly encouraged" to take the training. The goal is to ensure lawyers know how to use the tools appropriately and empower them to speak with clients about the firm's technology capabilities. "We are in the business of selling legal services," Bender said. "I want our associates to understand the differentiated nature of our offering." Morgan Lewis requires staff to get credentialed before they can use the tools Assess: At Morgan Lewis, the first step in adopting AI isn't picking the tool. It's diagnosing the problem, said attorney Timothy Levin, who leads the firm's investment management practice. Understanding how legal work can be improved with AI is important to ensure tools are applied where they can have a real impact, rather than just throwing tech at a problem, Levin said. Once a tool passes security and risk checks, it's piloted by an attorney and C-suite advisory group spanning 15 practice areas and firm operations — a cross-section designed to vet the tool's value across the firm's legal work. Apply: Morgan Lewis has been inundated with startup pitches, says Colleen Nihill, its chief AI and knowledge officer, as the legal tech gold rush draws a wave of new founders. To cut through the noise, Morgan Lewis favors larger enterprise partners that align with its technical standards. For example, Thomson Reuters is a strategic partner. The firm's advisory group meets regularly with Thomson Reuters to review existing tools, preview the product road map, and beta test unreleased features. They also collaborate to co-develop tools tailored to Morgan Lewis's needs. One use case at Morgan Lewis involves reviewing fund documents for institutional investors, where CoCounsel Core helps attorneys summarize key terms and flag client-specific dealbreakers. Align: Nihill said the firm requires its staff to get credentialed for tools before they can use them. Partners and firm leadership were the first to get CoCounsel Core-certified, a process that included Coursera-based coursework, hands-on exercises, and a final assessment. Once certified, users receive a digital badge displayed on their internal profiles. Nihill says this signals to associates that these tools aren't just approved; they're a professional priority for the firm.
