Announced at Microsoft Build 2023, Windows will now have its own dedicated AI “copilot” that can be docked right into a side panel that can stay persistent while using other applications and aspects of the operating system.
Microsoft has been highly invested in AI over these recent months, and it was only a matter of time before it came to Windows. The time is now — and it’s coming in a big way.
This “copilot” approach is the same that’s being included in specific Microsoft apps, such as Edge, Word, and the rest of the Office 365 suite. In Windows, the copilot will be able to do things like provide personalized answers, help you take actions within Windows, and most importantly, interact with open apps contextually.
The AI being used here is, of course, Microsoft’s own Bing Chat, which is based on the OpenAI GPT-4 large language model. More than that, the Copilot also has access to the different plugins available for Bing Chat, which Microsoft says can be used to improve productivity, help bring ideas to life, collaborate, and “complete complex projects.”
Microsoft also calls Windows the “first PC platform to announce centralized AI assistance for customers,” comparing it to options like macOS and ChromeOS. Right now, you have to install the latest version of the Edge browser to get access to Bing Chat, so in theory, the Windows Copilot effectively integrates generative AI into every Windows 11 computer.
Microsoft says the Windows Copilot will start to become sometime in June as a preview for Windows 11.
Microsoft is also creating a permanent spot for AI-driven apps in the Microsoft Store called “AI Hub.” Coming to the Microsoft Store soon, this will be a one-stop shop highlighting apps and experiences in the world of AI, both built by Microsoft and by third-party developers. There are even going to be AI-generated review summaries, that take the reviews of an application and compile them into a single summary.
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
I've spent a good amount of time digging into the spec sheet of the new M6 MacBook Pro (14-inch), and for all intents and purposes, this is a classic Apple "chip and connectivity" refresh. It's not a full redesign. The chassis, Liquid Retina XDR panel, speakers, ports, and battery, all of them carry over unchanged.
However, the M6 brings more cores, stronger on-device AI, higher memory bandwidth on the larger configs, and modern wireless. Here’s the practical rundown of what actually improved, and whether those gains are worth your money.