Latest news with #Suleyman
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
With Copilot Mode, Microsoft marks its AI browser intentions
Even though it is early days for 'AI browsers', distinct approaches towards embedding artificial intelligence fundamentals that reshape how users interact with the web, are beginning to take shape. Microsoft has officially thrown its hat in the ring, by announcing a Copilot Mode for its existing Edge web browser, marking a differing concept. This, according to Mustafa Suleyman, who is CEO of Microsoft AI, is 'a big step towards an AI browser'. The AI browser conversation, at this time, is centered around AI company Perplexity's recently launched Comet browser, with upcoming competition expected from OpenAI's rumoured browser, as well as Opera's Neon. Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, calls Edge's new Copilot Mode, 'a big step towards an AI browser'. (Official photo) Instead of building a new browser from the ground up, Microsoft is layering the existing Edge browser. 'The future of the web is calmer, more focused, and more genuinely helpful. Today, we're bringing it closer than ever,' says Suleyman. The functionality being pitched as part of the Copilot Mode includes an ability to find context for a user's queries across multiple open tabs, agentic features such as booking reservations, and voice navigation. Also Read: Microsoft's AI can diagnose illnesses faster than most doctors, but it's not replacing them anytime soon For now, Microsoft is marking the Copilot Mode as 'experimental', and is unlocking this functionality for free for users who opt in, albeit for a limited time. It may well be the case that certain functionality, in due course, will move behind a subscription paywall. This is in sharp contrast to Perplexity, which is unlocking early access to Comet for users on the Max subscription, that is priced at $200 (around ₹17,000) per month. Numbers from research firm Statcounter indicate Edge has cornered around 4.97% of the global web browser market share, where Google's Chrome holds a significant lead with 68.32% share, followed by Apple Safari (16.25%). The latter is yet to find success with its Apple Intelligence suite, as the company had envisioned, a year ago. Two roads, same destination? Microsoft has bolted AI functionality to an existing web browser, the primary advantage for consumers being not having to switch to a new browser app, and sync bookmarks, payment methods and more. Building with a popular existing product is something Google can do too, though the company hasn't announced anything on the lines of Microsoft's Copilot Mode, with its Gemini AI as yet. Contextualising Google's cautious approach is a Chrome browser that already allows close integration with not just Gemini, but a variety of AI products including OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude and even Perplexity's tools — albeit with lesser capability of agentic features, which new-age AI browsers aggressively pitch. The luxury of an existing foundation is something Perplexity and Browser Company didn't have. Comet, and the latter's Dia browsers, were developed from the ground up, which albeit a costly route, does allow them to develop a more focused approach where software and AI work in sync. Dia has marked Browser Company's pivot from a minimalism focused Arc browser, towards AI browsing. Comet, for instance, can put together a shopping cart based on what you tell it, summarise web pages, search and find emails for you based on very specific queries, browse with voice commands and help with shopping (such as finding the fastest shipping options among the listed items) or travel (create walking routes for a place you're visiting). Opera seems to be straddling both approaches, with its yet to be launched Neon browser. It is a new browser that takes little from its siblings, but still is expected to retain a lot of the familiar functionality. Opera is building its agentic functionality, called Do, with the in-house Browser Operator AI agent announced earlier this year, at its foundation. While there may be a fear that Google's careful approach to any changes with Chrome may be leaving space that Perplexity, Browser Company, and now Microsoft may be able to fill, the tech giant is betting on its massive Chrome user base numbers to hold them in good stead for the inevitable AI layering. There is also the aspect of cost, if a Chrome user must switch. Perplexity Max currently costs $200 per month, though company CEO Aravind Srinivas confirms that Comet will soon be available for Pro users as well, which is priced at ₹1,999 per month. Opera hasn't announced pricing for Neon, while Dia remains invite-only for now. It is expected that OpenAI, once their expected AI browser is unveiled, will also be part of their paid subscription plans. All said and done, success of newer AI browsers will depend on their ability to demonstrate clear value and utility over traditional web browsing apps, while balancing functionality with privacy, for users. That cocktail will not be easy to achieve.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Microsoft Copilot has a ‘new face' that can interact with users; here's how to enable it
Microsoft has introduced an experimental feature for its CoPilot AI chatbot . Named Copilot Appearance, this update enables the AI assistant to recognise real-time facial expressions during voice conversations, including smiling, nodding, and raising eyebrows. This visual assistant is currently available in an early preview for users testing Copilot Labs . Microsoft's goal with this addition is to give Copilot a more human-like presence. The Copilot Appearance experiment aligns with Microsoft's broader vision of evolving Copilot from a basic assistant into an AI companion. Microsoft's AI CEO, Mustafa Suleyman , has described this feature as giving Copilot its own "digital patina" that can develop over time with the user, aiming for more intuitive and human-like AI interactions. Microsoft Copilot Appearance: How to enable this feature and other details Users interested in trying Copilot Appearance can enable it through the voice settings in the Copilot interface. The feature is currently being tested with a limited group of users in the US, UK, and Canada. If you're not part of this test group, the option may not appear in your settings. At this stage, Copilot Appearance can display expressions such as smiling, nodding, and raising an eyebrow, all while maintaining the same familiar voice. The experiment is currently limited to the web version, and Microsoft hasn't announced any plans to expand it to Windows or mobile platforms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Back Pain Treatments That Might Surprise You! Back Pain Treatment | Search Ads Undo The feature includes real-time expressions such as smiles, nods, and surprised looks, all synced with Copilot's speech engine to reflect tone and pace. It also remembers earlier parts of your conversation, allowing it to reference previous topics for a more natural flow of conversation. In a recent episode of The Colin & Samir Show, Suleyman discussed how Copilot will eventually have its own "room" to exist in and may develop a kind of "digital patina" over time. "I'm really interested in this idea of digital patina. The things I love in my world are the things that are a little bit worn or rubbed down, and have scuff marks. Unfortunately, in the digital world, we don't have a sense of age,' he noted. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
India Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Microsoft Copilot is getting a face and it is going to age, says AI chief Mustafa Suleyman
Microsoft's AI assistant Copilot is no longer just a voice in your browser, it's getting a face. The company has begun testing a new feature called Copilot Appearance, which gives its generative AI chatbot a touch of personality, complete with expressions and of it as Copilot's coming-out party: the usually faceless AI now smiles, nods and reacts as it chats with you. Microsoft says it wants to give users 'a new, visual way to chat with Copilot,' and it's starting with an experimental roll-out through Copilot experiment adds a surprising amount of life to conversations. Alongside real-time facial expressions, Copilot now uses non-verbal cues to respond when you speak to it. That includes simple nods, a grin when appropriate, and a touch of character when giving an answer. And there's more, voice mode is getting a memory upgrade, meaning the chatbot won't just hear your voice but will also remember your ongoing conversation. If that sounds a bit like talking to an animated character in a video game, that's very much the the moment, this new look is exclusive to the web version of Copilot. There's no sign yet of the feature coming to Windows or mobile apps, so you'll need a browser to meet the new face of Microsoft those who can access it, switching on Copilot Appearance is simple. Enter voice mode by clicking on the microphone icon, go to Voice Settings, and flip the toggle labelled 'Copilot Appearance.' From there, Copilot will react to your voice commands with all the enthusiasm of a newly hired Suleyman, who leads Microsoft's AI division, explained the thinking behind these changes on The Colin & Samir Show this week. 'Copilot will certainly have a kind of permanent identity, a presence, and it will have a room that it lives in, and it will age,' Suleyman aim, he suggests, is to make Copilot feel like more than a chatbot – more like a digital companion. Suleyman first teased Copilot's expressive side at Microsoft's 50th Anniversary celebrations earlier this year. Now, those early experiments have grown into a public test for users in the US, UK and isn't Microsoft's first attempt at giving software a human touch. Long before Copilot, there was Clippy, the animated paperclip who cheerfully offered to help (whether you wanted it or not). Clippy went down in tech history as one of the most annoying assistants of all time – though some now look back fondly on its awkward Copilot Appearance, Microsoft appears to be learning from its past. This AI isn't here to interrupt; it's here to engage. And so far, there's been no sign that it will sprout googly eyes and bounce across your now, Microsoft hasn't announced a timeline for a wider release, but given the company's big bet on AI, it's safe to assume this is just the beginning of Copilot's makeover.- Ends
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Microsoft Copilot now has a face: Here's how the AI chatbot looks like
Microsoft is giving Copilot, its generative AI-powered chatbot, a face. Part of the tech giant's new Copilot Appearance experiment, the tech giant says the new feature gives users 'a new, visual way to chat with Copilot.' Available as an early preview in Copilot Labs, the new feature brings real-time facial expressions, adds non-verbal cues and gives Copilot's voice mode a conversational memory. This means that the AI chatbot can now respond to your voice inputs with a smile, nod and other gestures. And while Copilot uses the same voice as you have asked it to, the experiment currently seems to be limited to the web version of the AI chatbot, as Microsoft is yet to announce any plans to bring Copilot Appearance to the Windows and mobile app. To use the new feature, all you have to do is enter Voice mode by clicking on the microphone icon, head over to Voice Settings and turn on the toggle named 'Copilot Appearance.' Now, if you ask Copilot a question or just say 'hi', Copilot will react and talk back to you with smiles, gestures and other expressions. Microsoft's AI team, led by Mustafa Suleyman, has been working on making Copilot a personalised conversational AI assistant. In an episode of The Colin & Samir Show that was aired this week, Suleyman said, 'Copilot will certainly have a kind of permanent identity, a presence, and it will have a room that it lives in, and it will age.' Suleyman had previously shared a glimpse of Copilot Appearance earlier this year at Microsoft's 50th Anniversary event. The feature is currently live for select users living in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, but it is still unclear if and when it will be rolling out worldwide. Microsoft has had a history of trying to bring its digital assistants to life. The company's most famous animated assistant was Clippy, which was often criticised for not being helpful and was instead labelled as intrusive by many.
Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Microsoft snapped up dozens of Google DeepMind staffers in recent months: Report
Google DeepMind has lost over two dozen AI developers to Microsoft in the past few months, according to a report by CNBC. The Windows maker has hired at least 24 former Google staffers to join the AI team within the company that is led by Mustafa Suleyman, who reports to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Interestingly, Suleyman is one of the co-founders of DeepMind which was acquired by Google back in 2014. Demis Hassabis, another DeepMind co-founder, is now at the helm of the Google AI research division. In 2022, Suleyman exited Google to establish his own startup called Inflection. However, he joined Microsoft last year to lead its AI team along with several other employees who had worked with him at Inflection. The migration of talent from Google to Microsoft comes amid a rapidly intensifying AI talent war. It also follows Microsoft's announcement earlier this month that it was laying off around 9,000 employees or around 4 per cent of its global workforce. Some of the engineers who have been part of the movement of talent are Amar Subramanya, Adam Sadovsky, Sonal Gupta, and Jonas Rothfuss, among others. Subramanya reportedly worked at Google for 16 years and most recently served as the vice president of engineering developing the tech giant's Gemini AI assistant. He has now joined Microsoft AI as a corporate vice president, according to a post on LinkedIn. Sadovsky's stint at Google lasted 18 years. His prior position at the company was senior director at DeepMind. He is now a corporate vice president at Microsoft AI. Until June this year, Gupta was an engineering lead at Google DeepMind. Now, her LinkedIn profile says that she is a member of the technical staff on Suleyman's Microsoft AI team. After a year as an AI research scientist at DeepMind, Rothfuss also joined Microsoft AI in May this year as part of its technical staff. While Microsoft does not appear to have actively poached these individuals, it underscores how AI researchers and engineers are increasingly being traded like star athletes. Among the big tech companies, Meta stands out as the most aggressive in poaching talent. The social media giant recently hired Mark Lee and Tom Gunter, two AI researchers who previously worked at Apple. It has also recruited several employees who previously held roles at OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, claimed that Meta was offering the startup's employees a staggering $100-million signing bonus. The AI researchers who have been poached will be part of Meta's newly formed artificial superintelligence lab that will be led by Alexandr Wang, the co-founder of Scale AI which saw a staggering $14.3 billion investment from Meta last month, along with former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman. Meanwhile, Google successfully hired away the CEO of Windsurf as well as a small group of the AI coding startup's employees in a $2.4 billion deal.
