Microsoft Build Event

Microsoft are going to make the most money from AI in the short term, and release a long stream of licensed products. Similar to Google,

1. They have deep pockets, it’s a business that is already floated, has large reserves of cash, generates cash, has a vast employee base.

2. They have a vast customer base, of installed Windows and Office users, particularly in the Enterprise space.

3. They have unfathomably large amounts of data.

4. They have decades deep understanding of how to monetise, manage and deliver a partner network which can sell, customise and deliver solutions to Businesses

5. They have a well established cloud business, infrastructure and developer tools.

They also view AI as a massive licensing and delivery partner revenue opportunity. They are making money, more so than any other ‘AI’ company by selling AI products.

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It’s all about the co-pilots

Microsoft are strong on supporting the idea of ‘augmented by AI’, with the use of embedded co-pilots into the total Microsoft stack. From the Windows Operating system, through to teams.

There is a wide range of supporting material, training courses, playbooks for both the tool itself, and the use in vertical industries and roles. Some of these are a bit ‘marketing infantile’ but they do give a good starting point.

Co-Pilot Studio

Microsoft Copilot Studio is a platform designed to build and customise intelligent conversational agents, known as copilots, using advanced AI capabilities. This platform integrates large language models (LLMs) with organizational data and business applications to create tailored solutions that enhance productivity and streamline processes.

This is microsoft’s view / solution on the future of business automation. It is built around a ‘low code’ and ‘no-code’ framework. Ultimately aiming to allow fast development of business solutions, with less developer involvement.

What it can do Overview video link here

Marketing / Overview video link here.

Co-Pilot Plugins and extensions

The co-pilot family of tools is designed to be extended, either with additional Microsoft plugins (such as the team co-pilot), or third party, or your own developed ones.

For example, Microsoft Team Co-Pilot adds a virtual member of the team which can, pick up on administrative tasks and automate them. (not released yet)

1. Meeting facilitator: Takes notes, manages the agenda.

2. Group collaborator: Summarises, surfaces tasks and outcomes.

3. Project manager: Assigns tasks, tracks tasks and helps to manage deadlines

Co-Pilot extensions allow the organisation to extend the functionality of co-pilots or to provide access to internal data. This is provided by a number of connectors. (check for licensing costs!). Developer information here.

Improvements to Power Automate

Microsoft’s robotic process automation solution, and ‘app builder’, was also a featured upgrade at build. Don’t underestimate how much you can build using this technology, also don’t unders estimate how tricky it can be to maintain.

Marketing video here.

And now the ‘one getting all the press’

Microsoft announced a tool called ‘Recall’ which is an ultimate co-pilot for windows. However, it remembers everything you do,….yes everything. I can already see people leaping to clear history.

It would be fair to say absolutely everyone, apart from Microsoft, thinks this is a privacy nightmare. It is only available on the new AI Surfaces which were also announced.

Deep info: How it works at a detail level, probably best to also read ‘windows co-pilot runtime overview’.

Some AI laptops

Here is the short view. Interesting, probably the existing Macs are better laptops, and the next ones will definitely be better than these. However if you do want a windows based laptop / surface.