Your Tech Story

microsoft

Vodafone and Microsoft's 10-Year Deal in AI and Payment Systems

Vodafone and Microsoft’s 10-Year Deal in AI and Payment Systems

Leave a Comment / Artificial Intellegence, News, Tech News / By

In order to provide generative AI, digital services, enterprise solutions, as well as cloud services to more than 300 million customers and enterprises throughout its European and African regions, Vodafone and Microsoft have formed a ground-breaking 10-year cooperation.

Vodafone is investing $1.5 billion in the creation of customer-focused AI as part of this partnership, utilising Microsoft’s Copilot and Azure OpenAI capabilities. As part of the cooperation, physical data centres will be replaced with more affordable and scalable Azure cloud services.

Microsoft Will Purchase Stock in Vodafone's IoT in Exchange

In exchange, Microsoft will purchase stock in Vodafone’s operated Internet of Things (IoT) platform, which is expected to go independent by April 2024. Microsoft will also contribute to the African expansion of Vodafone’s mobile finance platform.

Vodafone and Microsoft's 10-Year Deal in AI and Payment Systems

Image Source: voi.id

Luka Mucic, Chief Financial Officer of Vodafone, highlighted how Microsoft’s AI leadership, especially through its OpenAI partnership, is revolutionising the telecoms company’s consumer services. Mucic announced the introduction of the Microsoft AI-driven TOBi chatbot, which is expected to provide more consistent and perceptive answers to consumer inquiries.

Microsoft’s Chief Commercial Officer, Judson Althoff, emphasised the strategic importance of Vodafone’s IoT and financial services capabilities. In order to test process changes in the cloud, he highlighted the crucial role that Vodafone’s IoT assets play in solving sustainability concerns. Microsoft’s “digital twins” are used to mimic industrial settings.

“The IoT assets are critical in helping us address the sustainability needs of so many of our customers in hard-to-abate sectors,” Microsoft’s Chief Commercial Officer Judson Althoff said.

“Vodafone’s IoT stack allows us to go into those environments, model the environment, create large-scale data stores, and use AI to help customers meet their sustainability goals,” he said.

cnbc.com

Microsoft’s goals in the area, which centre on financial decision-making and digital literacy, are in line with Vodafone’s M-PESA mobile money platform, which operates in African nations including South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya. The collaboration intends to use generative AI capabilities to enable clients to make knowledgeable financial decisions.

Also Read: Uber Announces Closure of its Alcohol Delivery Service Drizly

This partnership is an all-encompassing attempt to fuse Microsoft’s technological capabilities with Vodafone’s vast telecom reach, generating synergies in the domains of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and financial services. A common vision for the development of digital services and innovation in the telecom industry is reflected in the partnership’s commitment to a 10-year term.

Microsoft’s New Copilot Key is the First Big Change to Windows Keyboards in 30 Years

Microsoft’s New Copilot Key is the First Big Change to Windows Keyboards in 30 Years

Leave a Comment / Microsoft, News, Tech News / By

Microsoft has announced a groundbreaking addition to its upcoming Windows PCs: the Copilot key, aimed at facilitating text conversations with the company’s virtual assistant. This innovative inclusion marks one of the most significant changes to Windows keyboards in three decades, following the introduction of the Windows key in 1994, designed for accessing the Start menu.

Empowering Windows Users

Microsoft’s New Copilot Key is the First Big Change to Windows Keyboards in 30 Years

Image Source: ca.finance.yahoo.com

Set to revolutionize user interactions, the Copilot key leverages AI models from OpenAI, supported by Microsoft. This cutting-edge technology enables users to engage in human-like text exchanges with the virtual assistant, similar to the functionality of the popular ChatGPT chatbot. Among its capabilities, Copilot can draft emails, respond to queries, generate images, and even activate various PC features. Businesses subscribing to Copilot for Microsoft 365 will benefit from streamlined assistance in Teams chats, along with aid in crafting Word documents.

Integration and Functionality

Initially introduced in PCs running Windows 10, the world’s predominant operating system, and Windows 11, users could summon Copilot by pressing the Windows key combined with the C key. Now, Microsoft has taken this integration a step further by introducing a dedicated Copilot key on forthcoming Windows keyboards. This move is strategically aimed at driving a potential wave of PC upgrades, vital for Microsoft’s revenue growth, as approximately 10% of the company’s revenue is derived from its operating system.

The Era of AI PCs

As technology giants like Dell and HP aim to offer replacements for devices purchased during the pandemic, the industry is embracing the concept of the AI PC. This concept revolves around embedding specialized chip components within devices to efficiently run demanding computational models. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s head of Windows and Surface, predicts that 2024 will be the pinnacle year for AI PCs, driven by enhancements to Windows, PCs, and chip-level advancements.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S24 Series is now up for Pre-Booking in India, Launching Globally on January 17

Unveiling at CES and Future Availability

PC manufacturers are gearing up to showcase the Copilot key in the lead-up to the CES conference in Las Vegas. Microsoft Surface PCs will prominently feature this innovation, with device reveals expected before the conference and availability slated to begin later this month. A Microsoft spokesperson revealed that in certain instances, the Copilot key will replace the Menu key or the right Control key, while larger computers might accommodate both keys.

Microsoft’s introduction of the Copilot key signifies a pivotal step in enhancing user experience, driving the evolution of AI-powered PCs, and potentially reshaping the future of human-computer interactions.

Microsoft Launches Seeing AI Android App for Low-Vision And Blind People

Microsoft Launches Seeing AI Android App for Low-Vision And Blind People

Leave a Comment / Story, Tech Story / By

Microsoft has recently unveiled the Android version of its revolutionary app, Seeing AI, specifically designed to assist low-vision and blind individuals. The launch marks a significant milestone in assistive technology, providing new opportunities for independence and accessibility.

Background of Seeing AI

Originally developed for iOS, Seeing AI has been a transformative tool since its inception. The primary goal of the app is to provide a virtual ‘viewing’ experience while taking advantage of advanced technology to assist people with visual impairments.

Features of Seeing AI

Microsoft Launches Seeing AI Android App for Low-Vision And Blind People

Image Source: ts2.space

Seeing AI is packed with features like text recognition, object recognition, and scene description, all designed to enhance the daily experiences of its users.

User Interface and Accessibility

The app’s design focuses on intuitive navigation and ease of use, ensuring that its interface is accessible to everyone, regardless of their level of vision.

Technology Behind Seeing AI

At its core, Seeing AI uses cutting-edge AI and machine learning algorithms to interpret the world around its users, transforming visual data into audible information.

Benefits for Low-Vision and Blind Users

Seeing AI opens up a world of independence for visually impaired individuals, from reading printed text to recognizing faces and objects.

Challenges in Developing Seeing AI

Building an app like Seeing AI involves overcoming many technical and ethical challenges, ensuring that it is not only effective but also respectful and privacy-conscious.

Also Read: ChatGPT vs. Google Bard: Which Is Good for Data Analysis?

Future Updates and Roadmap

Microsoft is constantly innovating with plans for future updates that promise to bring even more features and improvements to Seeing AI.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Microsoft’s Seeing AI app for Android is a significant advancement in assistive technology, providing independence and a better experience for low-vision and blind individuals.

OpenAI Will Add Microsoft as Board Observer, Plans Governance Changes

OpenAI Will Add Microsoft as Board Observer, Plans Governance Changes

Leave a Comment / News, Tech News / By

OpenAI announced that Mr Sam Altman had been formally restored as CEO and that Microsoft had joined the board of directors in a non-voting observer role.

The statement, made on 29 November in a blog post written by Mr Altman, comes two weeks after the chief executive officer of the artificial intelligence (AI) start-up was abruptly fired, sparking a dramatic power battle in the boardroom.

OpenAI Will Add Microsoft as Board Observer, Plans Governance Changes

Image Source: freemalaysiatoday.com

Additionally, OpenAI said that Ms. Mira Murati, who served as the business’s chief technology officer beforehand Mr. Altman’s dismissal and was temporarily designated as temporary chief executive officer, was back in that role. Greg Brockman, an OpenAI co-founder, resigned from his position as president of the firm in protest at Mr. Altman’s termination.

The business’s biggest backer, Microsoft, had never had a board seat before accepting the observer role. Mr Adam D’Angelo, an alumnus from the board before him who is the chief executive officer of the Q&A website Quora, Professor Larry Summers, formerly the United States Treasury secretary, and Mr Bret Taylor, a previous co-chief executive officer of Salesforce who will serve as chairman, are the newly appointed directors. Creating a new, longer-lasting board will be among the directors’ main responsibilities.

Permanent Board Will be Chosen “Fairy Quickly”, Says Altman

Mr.  Altman stated that the permanent board will be chosen quite shortly in a discussion on November 29. Although he did not specify the final size of the group, he did state that it will be considerably increased from its existing composition. When asked if he would return to the board, Mr Altman stated that it was currently, not of the utmost importance.

Also Read: Apple Plans to End Credit Card Partnership with Goldman Sachs

“OpenAI is ending the month of November with stronger governance and a governance foundation than it had when the month began,” Microsoft President Brad Smith told reporters in London on Thursday. “These kinds of steps are giving us more confidence. I think they should give government and should give customers more confidence.”

finance.yahoo.com

Mr Taylor stated that the newly appointed board members will concentrate on assembling a competent, diversified board in a letter that accompanied Mr Altman’s tweet. Additionally, he declared that the business will improve OpenAI’s management structure. The startup has come under fire for having a structure that let a non-profit board remove the chief executive officer without first talking to the organization’s biggest backers.

Microsoft unveils Outlook Lite with SMS, local language support for Indian users

Microsoft unveils Outlook Lite with SMS, local language support for Indian users

Leave a Comment / Microsoft, News, Tech News / By

Microsoft has released Outlook Lite, an intuitive email and SMS application created especially for the Indian people. According to a press release from the firm, this service caters to people with lightweight smartphones on any network by combining email and SMS functionality in a small design.

Microsoft unveils Outlook Lite with SMS, local language support for Indian users

Image Source: onlytech.com

According to Microsoft, Outlook Lite caters to the communication requirements of people in developing markets by providing SMS as well as assistance for Indian spoken languages. With services such as voice typing, transcription, and support for local languages, users may create and review emails in their favourite language with ease. Outlook Lite allows users to dictate emails in Hindi, compose emails in Tamil and then have them instantly translated to English, or view emails in Gujarati.

The software is now compatible with Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Marathi, as well as Gujarati, further languages may be added later.

By classifying messages such as transactions, advertisements, and interpersonal connections, the application also makes SMS texting simpler. Its simplified inbox makes it easier for customers to remember appointments, make travel reservations, pay bills and reserve fuel.

Users may quickly navigate between categories and read pertinent messages in one location.

This Function Comes With Functionalities Like Reminders, Trip & Gas Bookings And Many More

Additionally, this function will notify customers of upcoming appointments, reservations for trips, bills, and petrol, all of which often go overlooked in the deluge of information.

According to Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director, Microsoft India Development Centre, Outlook Lite attempts to give consumers a more practical and customised approach to remain informed and complete tasks.

Also Read: Tata Technologies IPO Fully Subscribed Within Minutes of Opening For Subscription

Outlook Lite will eventually enable users to translate SMS messages into various languages, making it simple to comprehend messages in one language and move between them. Users who connect with people from various locations or communicate in numerous languages may find this function especially useful.

Rajiv Kumar, Managing Director of Microsoft India Development Centre and Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Experiences and Devices, India Group, said “The evolution of Outlook Lite embodies our dedication to fostering inclusive digital experiences tailored for diverse communities in India. With SMS integration and vernacular language support, Outlook Lite redefines communication accessibility and provides users with a more convenient & personalized experience.”

thehindu.com
Google Didn't Rush Bard Chatbot to Beat Microsoft, Executive Says, Prioritizing Quality Over Speed

Google Didn’t Rush Bard Chatbot to Beat Microsoft, Executive Says, Prioritizing Quality Over Speed

Leave a Comment / Google, Microsoft, News, Tech News / By

A top Google official denied claims that the business hastily released Bard, a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, Previously, this year to outperform competitor Microsoft Corp.’s product.

The Vice President of Search, Elizabeth Reid, said amid Google’s defence testimony in the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit in opposition to the search engine giant that Bard provided a wrong answer when it was first unveiled to the people in February. However, she disregarded David Dahlquist, a government attorney, who said that Bard was hastily released following Microsoft’s announcement that it would be incorporating generative artificial intelligence into the company’s Bing search engine.

“I don’t think you can make that conclusion,” Reid said. “Microsoft’s announcement also had several errors in it. The technology is very nascent. It makes mistakes. That’s why we’ve been hesitant to put it forward.”

bnnbloomberg.ca

Google keeps its search engine monopoly by blocking competitors, DOJ Says

Google Didn't Rush Bard Chatbot to Beat Microsoft, Executive Says, Prioritizing Quality Over Speed

Image Source: finance.yahoo.com

The Justice Department is attempting to demonstrate in its historic competition case how Google keeps its search dominance by isolating competitors like Microsoft. Government solicitors have been attempting to demonstrate that, in addition to its supremacy, Google purposefully delayed technical advancements if they potentially jeopardise its position.

After years of developing Google Maps as well as local search tools, Reid joined Google, a division of Alphabet Inc., as a vice president of search in 2021. She discussed in her testimony the organization’s attempts to create local search and its latest foray into artificial intelligence (AI) with the Search Generative Service, a limited edition driven by generative Intelligence.

Throughout the trial, several Google officials have spoken about the business’s attempts to use machine learning and artificial intelligence in its products.

On Monday, February 6, Google revealed the release of Bard, referring to it as an essential next phase of its artificial intelligence a statement made by CEO Sundar Pichai. The next day, Microsoft announced that it was adding ChatGPT technology from Open AI to Bing.

Also Read: Mozilla ‘Failed’ Bet on Yahoo Takes Spotlight in Google Trial

The public display of Bard by Google failed to impress financiers. Bard was questioned once on recent findings from the James Webb Space Telescope. False information was provided by the chatbot about the usage of the telescope to capture the first images of a planet outside of our solar system.

In 2004, NASA took the first images of a planet known as an exoplanet, however, the Webb telescope became the first to take a picture of a specific planet outside of our solar system. Alphabet’s shares fell sharply as a result of the error.

“It’s a very subtle language difference,” Reid said in explaining the error in her testimony Wednesday. “The amount of effort to ensure that a paragraph is correct is quite a lot of work.”

“The challenges of fact-checking are hard,” she added.

bnnbloomberg.ca