Image source: Microsoft.
Besides expanding access, Microsoft has added new features to its Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing new generative AI capabilities to apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and more.
Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO, Microsoft, said:
This new generation of AI will remove the drudgery of work and unleash creativity. There’s an enormous opportunity for AI-powered tools to help alleviate digital debt, build AI aptitude and empower employees.
Microsoft said that they are introducing the Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program to an initial 600 enterprise customers worldwide in an invitation-only paid preview program.
In addition, the following new capabilities will be added to Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Viva:
- Copilot in Whiteboard will make Microsoft Teams meetings and brainstorms more creative and effective. Using natural language, uses can ask Copilot to generate ideas, organise ideas into themes, create designs that bring ideas to life, and summarise Whiteboard content.
- Copilot in PowerPoint will be integrated with DALL-E, OpenAI’s image generator so users will be able to ask Copilot to create custom images to support their content.
- Copilot in Outlook will offer coaching tips and suggestions on clarity, sentiment and tone to help users write more effective emails and communicate more confidently.
- Copilot in OneNote will use prompts to draft plans, generate ideas, create lists and organise information to help customers find what they need easily.
- Copilot in Viva Learning will use a natural language chat interface to help users create a personalised learning journey including designing upskilling paths, discovering relevant learning resources and scheduling time for assigned trainings.
The Microsoft 2023 Work Trend Index
In addition to its expansion to Microsoft 365 Copilot the company also announced the results to its 2023 Work Trend Index with 31,000 people in 31 countries being surveyed along with labour market trends on LinkedIn to understand what the new era of AI means for work.
According to the report, the pace and volume of work has increased exponentially, and employees are struggling under the weight of work – putting innovation at risk. Both leaders and employees alike are eager for AI to lift the burden. However, there is also the fear that employees are fearful AI will ultimately put them out of a job. The report found that while 49% of respondents had concerns about job security, 70% of them would still choose to delegate as much work as possible to AI to lessen their workloads. Jared Spataro, CVP Modern Work and Business Applications at Microsoft said, ”Employees know what’s in it for them, the promise of relief outweighs the threat. They envision using AI not just for administrative tasks, but also for analytical and creative work.”
82% of leaders anticipate employees will need new skills in the AI era, and there are already a 79% year-over-year increase in the number of LinkedIn job postings in the U.S. that reference “GPT” or “GAI” (generative artificial intelligence).
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