As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Microsoft has introduced a suite of advanced capabilities to its AI-powered Copilot chatbot, aimed at enhancing user experience across web, mobile, and desktop platforms. Copilot can now take actions on most websites, such as booking tickets and reserving restaurants, and even remembers user preferences, like favorite foods and films.
One of the most notable upgrades is its ability to analyze real-time video from a phone’s camera or photo gallery and respond based on visual input. These enhancements place Copilot in closer competition with rivals like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
To power its new agent-like abilities, Microsoft has partnered with platforms such as Booking.com, Expedia, Kayak, OpenTable, and Tripadvisor for seamless integration on launch day. Users can now prompt Copilot to perform tasks like sending flowers or tracking online price drops, making the bot more interactive and practical.
While Microsoft has not released detailed data on the performance or limitations of these features, observers note the possibility of some websites choosing to block the bot, as seen with other AI agents like OpenAI’s Operator.
Beyond task automation, Copilot now features a podcast-generation tool, similar to Google’s Audio Overviews, where two AI-generated hosts discuss content from websites or studies. On Android, iOS, and Windows, the revamped Copilot can now view and interpret what’s on a phone’s camera or a PC’s screen, assisting users with organizing files, changing settings, and more.
These features will first be available to members of the Windows Insider program. Microsoft has assured users that safeguards are in place to prevent Copilot from accessing sensitive files or causing disruptions.
Additionally, the AI tool now boasts a Pages function for consolidating projects, inspired by ChatGPT Canvas and Claude Artifacts, allowing users to organize research into cohesive documents. Its new Deep Research feature also helps users tackle complex queries by sourcing and synthesizing data from multiple formats.
Most significantly, Copilot now stores user-specific information to offer personalized suggestions and reminders. For privacy-conscious users, Microsoft has provided dashboard controls to review or delete saved memories, reaffirming its commitment to user control and data transparency.