Microsoft Announces Major AI Partnership with Vodafone and Unveils New AI Tools for Office Suite
By Dina Bass and Matt Day. Last Updated: Sep 17, 2024 | 12:03 AM IST
Microsoft Corporation has secured a significant deal with Vodafone Group Plc to deploy AI assistants for Office applications, along with introducing a suite of new AI tools aimed at enhancing productivity. Vodafone will acquire 68,000 licenses for these AI assistants, dubbed Copilots, after a successful trial indicated that each user could save approximately three hours per week. Other major clients include Honeywell International Inc. and Finastra Group Holdings Ltd. Microsoft reported a 60% increase in Copilot users in the latest quarter, with the number of clients exceeding 10,000 users doubling. However, total customer figures were not disclosed.
These advancements stem from Microsoft’s integration of AI technology developed by its partner, OpenAI. This collaboration is positioning Microsoft’s products distinctively against competitors, including OpenAI’s own offerings. Recently, OpenAI launched a new model, o1, capable of performing human-like reasoning, which Microsoft plans to incorporate into its products.
While customers laud the early versions of the Copilots for their meeting and document summarization capabilities, Microsoft acknowledges that generating new content and tasks requiring context comprehension need further refinement. The Copilots, costing $30 monthly per user, have the potential to become a significant revenue channel, though investor patience is waning over the monetization of substantial AI investments.
Among the new offerings, Microsoft is launching "Pages" within Copilot’s chat application, providing a collaborative space for teams using AI-generated and user-created data. Additionally, enhanced Copilot tools for Excel will incorporate Python programming for tasks like forecasts and risk analysis, accessible through natural language instructions.
Further AI enhancements are coming to Word, Teams, and PowerPoint. Outlook will feature a "Prioritize My Inbox" option, set to preview later this year, which will help users manage email clutter by analyzing their communication patterns and summarizing important messages.
First Published: Sep 17, 2024 | 12:03 AM IST
Original Story https://www.business-standard.com/technology/tech-news/ms-signs-office-ai-deal-with-vodafone-adds-features-to-excel-outlook-124091700004_1.html
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