Microsoft just gave Copilot a redesign — here’s who has access

Copilot’s makeover: Microsoft’s AI chatbot gets a fresh look: Microsoft is revamping its AI chatbot, Copilot, with a new design and performance improvements, aiming to compete more effectively with ChatGPT and other AI assistants.

Key changes and improvements:

• The redesigned web interface offers a card-based design with time-of-day specific prompts
• Performance enhancements reportedly bring Copilot’s speed “on par with ChatGPT”
• The chatbot now features day and night themes for improved user experience
• A text-entry box remains visible at all times, enhancing accessibility
• Four voice options are available, although voice mode is not yet enabled

Rollout and availability:

• The new version, dubbed ‘Copilot v2’, is currently being tested in India and Brazil
• Users can still access Copilot without a Microsoft account
• The chatbot continues to use ChatGPT-4 as its underlying model

Strategic implications:

• This redesign signals Microsoft’s renewed focus on Copilot after a period of apparent deprioritization
• The move suggests Microsoft is actively working to close the gap with OpenAI’s ChatGPT in terms of user experience and performance
• The revamp could be seen as Microsoft’s response to increasing competition in the AI chatbot space

Design inspiration:

• The new interface bears similarities to Pi, an AI chatbot from Inflection AI
• This resemblance is likely not coincidental, as Inflection AI’s founder, Mustafa Suleyman, now leads Microsoft’s Copilot team

Broader context:

• Microsoft has been heavily promoting AI-powered Windows machines, but had scaled back some features in its Copilot app
• This redesign may indicate a shift in strategy, focusing on improving the core Copilot experience

What to watch:

• User adoption and feedback on the new interface, particularly in comparison to ChatGPT
• Further rollout of ‘Copilot v2’ to other regions and potential global launch
• Integration of voice mode and other new features in future updates

Industry implications: The revamp of Copilot underscores the intensifying competition in the AI chatbot market, with major tech players continuously refining their offerings to gain an edge.

• Microsoft’s investment in Copilot highlights the growing importance of AI assistants in the tech ecosystem
• The improvements to Copilot may pressure other companies to enhance their own AI chatbots, potentially accelerating innovation in the field
• As AI chatbots become more sophisticated and user-friendly, they could play an increasingly central role in how people interact with technology and access information

Looking ahead: While Microsoft’s Copilot redesign shows promise, its success will ultimately depend on user adoption and how well it can differentiate itself in a crowded market of AI assistants.