KEYBOARD REVOLUTION: the computer world is waiting for the «magic» AI-key!
Artwork: Olena Burdeina (FA_Photo) via Photoshop
The experts debate about how much the world we are familiar with will change with the emergence of artificial intelligence will not subside. On January 4, 2024, supporters of the transformation have a new and relatively strong argument: AI is becoming a standard feature of your personal computer.
Yusuf Mehdi, one of Microsoft’s top executives, talked about the new button, which will appear on computer keyboards as early as this year, in his blog on the corporate website.
THE END OF THE ERA OF KEYBOARD CONSERVATISM
Our lives are unimaginable without computers, and they, in turn, are unimaginable without keyboards. It seems to us to be taken for granted and so habitual household accessory that we almost stopped noticing it.
And this is not surprising, considering that the keyboard is a highly conservative thing and not subject to the influence of fashion and all kinds of innovations.
However, this attitude to the keyboard can now be considered hopelessly outdated. And artificial intelligence is to blame for this and many other innovations that have recently been rapidly entering our lives.
NEW KEY — FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS!
For almost thirty years, the standard computer keyboard has not undergone any changes. Therefore, we can safely say that the announcement of the appearance of a new key — is an event far from ordinary for the computer industry.
January 4, 2024, it became known that Microsoft would add a new important key to the keyboard. The Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the corporation Yusuf Mehdi told in his blog on the site windows.com about this landmark innovation. He revealed that the new key will be called Copilot.
COPILOT — THE NEW TERM IN THE WORLD OF AI
Users of new laptops and desktops that run the Windows 11 operating system will be able to take advantage of Copilot. As you have probably already guessed, the functionality of the new key will be the launch of the new version of the «AI-assistant», specially developed by Microsoft.
Yusuf Mehdi announced this innovation: «The Copilot key marks the first major change to the keyboard in almost three decades. It will not only make it easier for people to work on computers but will also expand its efficiency».
ENTRY POINT TO THE NEW WORLD
According to Mehdi, 2024 will be a special year — the year of the PC with artificial intelligence. He said that the first computers with the Copilot key on the keyboard will be available to users as early as the end of February, at the very latest — in early spring.
«Copilot will be the entry point into the world of artificial intelligence», the Microsoft marketing director emphasized.
Judging by the promo video on the website, on standard keyboards, the new key will be located on the right side, in the place where the Ctrl key is now located. However, the right Ctrl key will not disappear anywhere on larger keyboards, and Copilot will simply be placed next to it.
NEW KEY — NEW POSSIBILITIES!
Yusuf Mehdi on the new features of the AI assistant interface that will be activated by pressing the Copilot key on a Windows 11 computer.
It can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, to improve the efficiency of searches through Bing. Or to increase productivity in Microsoft 365 applications. Among Copilot’s functions, it can also help you write and edit texts in Word.
In addition, Copilot is helpful in creating presentations and slideshows — you can automatically convert text files in PowerPoint into them. It will be enough just to give the AI some brief descriptions in the form of simple hints.
FORGOTTEN KEYS AND A SUCCESSFUL MARKETING MOVE
To be fair, it should be noted that Microsoft did add a new key to the keyboard thirty years ago — as far back as 1994. It was Win, which was used to invoke the Start menu. However, if we take a purely formal approach, then in 2019, we will again find new keys for Windows — Office and Emoticon.
However, they then appeared not on all keyboards, and, of course, with such a revolutionary event as Copilot, they are hardly worth comparing. Today, hardly anyone will seriously insist on the «right of the first night» of these keys. Therefore, in any case, Microsoft’s marketing move with the «30th anniversary» can be considered quite successful.
Original research: Introducing a new Copilot key to kick off the year of AI-powered Windows PCs