Microsoft has rolled out a new updated version of its AI Copilot assistant, featuring enhancements that provide the chatbot with a more conversational and friendly voice.

Launched on Tuesday, the latest version of the AI assistant can also analyse web pages for users as they browse, thereby improving the overall user experience.

Mustafa Suleyman, Chief Executive of Microsoft AI, told Reuters that the company has enlisted an “entire army” of creative professionals, including psychologists, novelists, and comedians, to enhance Copilot's tone and style. This effort aims to make it more engaging and personalised during users’ interactions.

The update is one of the first major projects overseen by Suleyman since the creation of his division in March, which focuses on consumer products and technology research.

In a recent demonstration, Copilot was asked to provide housewarming gift ideas for a friend who doesn’t drink wine. During the chat, the AI assistant suggested: “Italian olive oils are the hot stuff right now. Tuscan’s my go-to. Super peppery.”

Copilot’s voice features aim to make it a more responsive and active listener, with the AI chatbot also offering verbal acknowledgements like “cool” and “huh” during conversations.

With this move, Suleyman is revamping the image of Microsoft, historically associated with its dominance in business software, through the latest Copilot enhancements. The firm is entering into competition with other AI chatbot specialists such as Google and Meta.

The new AI assistant is available to consumers for $20 per month as part of the Copilot Pro Plan, which gives subscribers access to a range of features, such as the ‘Think Deeper’ function. This function helps users make decisions by providing advice on various options, such as which city to move to.

Additionally, a test function called Copilot Vision allows users to ‘digitally point’ at elements of a web page in the Microsoft Edge browser and engage in a discussion about what they see.

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