Whether you are a developer seeking to leverage the latest tools and technologies or an individual interested in the latest advancements, keeping a keen eye on the major announcements from Microsoft Build 2023 will undoubtedly provide valuable insights and help you navigate the exciting technological landscape that lies ahead.

In this summary, we will highlight the most significant takeaways from Microsoft Build 2023, providing you with a comprehensive overview of the noteworthy developments.

1. Windows Copilot

In the wake of the recent Bing Chat rollout, some may have assumed that Microsoft would scale back its investments in AI. However, the truth is far from it. Rather than reducing its focus, Microsoft is doubling down on its commitment to AI innovation and advancement. Not only will Bing Chat be available across all Microsoft 365 applications, but it is also being integrated directly into Windows 11. Windows Copilot is an intelligent AI assistant that assists you throughout your entire experience within the operating system. Not only does Windows Copilot enable internet searches, but it also possesses the capability to perform tasks on your behalf and interact contextually with open applications. The most noteworthy aspect of Windows Copilot is its seamless integration into the operating system, eliminating the need for websites or logins. This integration shows a significant milestone in AI development, as these features will be seamlessly embedded directly into your computer’s operating system.

2. Semantic Index for Copilot

To assist all customers in becoming AI-ready, Microsoft will introduce Semantic Index for Copilot as a new feature within Microsoft 365 E3 and E5. The Semantic Index for Copilot works as a sophisticated guide to your user and company data. Instead of simply searching for documents containing specific words like “March Sales Report” in the file name or content, it comprehends that “sales reports are generated by Kelly from the finance team using Excel.” By leveraging this conceptual understanding, it determines your intention and helps in locating the information you require. The Semantic Index for Copilot plays a crucial role in providing relevant and actionable responses to prompts in Microsoft 365 Copilot, while also improving enterprise search outcomes for E3 and E5 customers, regardless of whether they use Copilot.

3. Microsoft 365 Plugins

For early access users of Microsoft 365 Copilot, the AI assistant for Microsoft’s productivity suite (formerly known as Microsoft Office), many exciting opportunities await. With access to the LLM (large language model) for Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and other products within Microsoft 365, users will have the chance to explore over 50 plugins from esteemed companies such as Atlassian, Adobe, Thomson Reuters, and more.

These plugins offer enhanced functionalities and expanded capabilities, empowering users to accomplish tasks more efficiently and effectively. From project management to document collaboration and data analysis, the available plugins cover a diverse range of needs. As the plugins become more widely available, Microsoft anticipates thousands more to be published, further enriching the ecosystem, and unlocking even greater possibilities for users of Microsoft 365 Copilot.

4. ChatGPT with Bing Search & plugins

Another significant announcement was that Bing is set to become the default search engine integrated into ChatGPT. This is a major announcement, as ChatGPT is widely recognized as one of the leading generative conversational AI models currently available. However, one limitation of ChatGPT has been the absence of a real-time search engine, preventing it from obtaining up-to-date information like Bing can.

By incorporating Bing as the default search engine, both Bing and ChatGPT are poised to benefit substantially. Bing’s popularity is expected to soar while offering new functionalities to ChatGPT users. Although this integration may reduce some of the distinct advantages of using Bing Chat, such as web searching capabilities, it represents a significant stride towards making assistive AI more accessible and practical for a broader audience.

Furthermore, Microsoft and OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, are collaborating on a shared platform for plugins. This collaboration will enable the simultaneous growth of capabilities in both Bing Chat and ChatGPT, further expanding the potential and versatility of these AI systems.

Source: Microsoft

5. Microsoft Edge updates

Last March, Microsoft disclosed its plans to enhance the Microsoft 365 suite by introducing Microsoft Copilot, an AI-powered feature. Now, at Build, Microsoft has announced that Microsoft 365 Copilot will be seamlessly integrated into Microsoft Edge, elevating the browsing experience to new heights.

By leveraging the extensive capabilities of large language models and combining them with your data in Microsoft Graph, Microsoft 365 Copilot will extend its assistance to a broader range of tasks. This includes helping you stay updated with emails and performing various other actions within the Microsoft 365 apps.

Microsoft Edge Workspaces will move to the preview phase and become widely accessible to users in the coming months. This marks a significant milestone as Edge Workspaces will be made available to a broader audience, offering enhanced productivity and organizational capabilities within the browser. Users can look forward to leveraging the full potential of Microsoft Edge Workspaces as it becomes generally available.

6. AI in the Microsoft Store

Exciting transformations await the Microsoft Store on Windows as it undergoes an AI-powered revamp, introducing a range of new features throughout the store.

One noteworthy addition is the AI Hub, a carefully curated section showcasing the finest AI experiences crafted by both developers and Microsoft. This selection will encompass a variety of applications designed to enhance productivity, such as assisting in resume building, trip planning, and creating impactful presentations.

Furthermore, the upcoming introduction of AI-generated review summaries is set to revolutionize the purchasing process. By analyzing customer reviews, these concise summaries will offer valuable insights, empowering users to make well-informed buying decisions.

With these enhancements, the Microsoft Store on Windows is set to provide an enriched experience, leveraging AI to deliver tailored recommendations and invaluable assistance to users.

 

7. Microsoft Fabric

During the Build conference, Microsoft introduced a developer-centric platform called Microsoft Fabric, designed to meet the diverse analytics requirements of developers.

Microsoft Fabric serves as a comprehensive analytics platform, encompassing a wide range of tools to address various data-related needs. These tools include data engineering, integration, warehousing, science, real-time analytics, and more, as stated by Microsoft.

With Microsoft Fabric, developers gain enhanced accessibility to valuable insights derived from their data. Leveraging the capabilities of generative AI, developers can harness the power of this platform to extract meaningful information and make informed decisions based on their data assets. Microsoft Fabric provides a unified and powerful ecosystem for developers to unlock the potential of their data.

If you want to learn more about Microsoft’s announcements at Build 2023, you can watch the keynotes and interactive sessions here.

 

As a trusted Microsoft partner, Softlanding is ready to assist and address any inquiries that may arise from these groundbreaking developments. Whether you seek guidance, implementation support, or simply wish to explore the possibilities of AI, Softlanding is here to provide expertise to help your organization leverage the full benefits of Microsoft’s AI innovations.

Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. Softlanding can assist you on your journey toward AI and achieving your business objectives.

 

 

Written By:

softlanding

Softlanding is a long-established IT services provider of transformation, professional services and managed IT services that helps organizations boost innovation and drive business value. We are a multi-award-winning Microsoft Gold Partner with 13 Gold Competencies and we use our experience and expertise to be a trusted advisor to our clients. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, we have staff and offices in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary to serve clients across Canada.

More By This Author