Microsoft Build 2023, the software developer’s conference, has started with a focus on promoting a common platform for search and artificial intelligence (AI) and launching new features called Copilots. Copilots are designed to augment common tasks and are seen as a new approach to developing AI-powered software.
Microsoft has released a preview of Copilot in Power BI and Copilot in Power Pages, which are currently in preview. Copilot in Microsoft Fabric is planned to be ready soon for preview, while Windows Copilot is scheduled for preview in June.
Microsoft has created a plugins platform to help developers create their own copilots in next-generation AI applications. Developers may create plugins for this platform that function in both consumer and commercial environments. Developers can combine real-time data, business data, carry out calculations, and act on behalf of the user by accessing APIs from other programmes and services.
Microsoft believes that plugins serve as the connection between copilots and the digital world, making it easier for developers to create their own copilot applications. The company’s chief technology officer, Kevin Scott, stated that this approach is expected to become the norm for software development in the coming years.
The common plugin platform works with a variety of Microsoft products, including ChatGPT, Bing, Dynamics 365 Copilot (in preview), and Microsoft 365 Copilot (currently in preview). Applications built on Azure OpenAI will also support third-party plugins that are interoperable with the Microsoft platform, allowing for natural language interactions.
The number of plugins supported by Microsoft’s Bing search engine is growing as a result of the common plugin platform. There are already plugins for OpenTable and Wolfram Alpha, and there are more planned for the Bing ecosystem, including plugins for Expedia, Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, Redfin, Zillow, and others.
According to James Sanders, a principal analyst at CCS Insight, Microsoft’s integration of artificial intelligence features and the practical value of Copilot lies in the business data already present in Microsoft Graph, which includes data from Office, OneDrive, Windows, and Dynamics 365. This data informs the inferences and recommendations made by Copilot for users within an organization.
Overall, Microsoft Build 2023 showcases Microsoft’s commitment to artificial intelligence and the development of copilots to enhance software capabilities, with the shared plugin platform providing a means for developers to create AI-powered applications with rich functionality and natural language interactions.
