3 Amazing Things Microsoft’s New Bing and Edge Can Do

On 7 February 2023, Microsoft announced the launch of AI-powered versions of Bing search and Edge browser. The new products have been developed by Microsoft in partnership with research lab, OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT.

Microsoft estimates that of the 10 billion daily online queries, around 50% aren’t answered properly.

This is because people now use search engines for tasks they were never designed to perform. Search engines may be able to find websites containing content an internet user might be searching for. But they can’t perform complex tasks like comparing data from different websites and presenting the results in an easy-to-read single view.

Until now.

With their next-generation products, Microsoft and OpenAI have unified the search, browser and chat experience, changing forever the way billions of internet users will search and browse the web.

This innovative new user experience comes about because Microsoft has developed its cloud computing platform, Azure, into an AI supercomputer. OpenAI has been using Azure’s infrastructure to train Microsoft’s AI models.

For more information about cloud technologies, explore our content: 6 Cloud Technology Benefits for Midsize Businesses and 8 Cloud Technology Benefits for Small Businesses.

Microsoft’s new search and browser products introduce three new capabilities that will drastically change the way we all use the internet:

1. Better search with more complete answers
2. Chat functionality
3. Content generation

1. Delivering better search with more complete answers

Now you will be able to get succinct but accurate answers to simple queries like the phone number for your favourite restaurant or the winner of yesterday’s football match. You’ll also have access to the new Edge Sidebar that offers you the option to view more detailed content.

The Edge Sidebar can perform even more complex analyses such as summarising how my favourite football team, Real Madrid, has been doing over the past five years. If I want a side-by-side comparison of the performance of my two favourite football teams, I can use Microsoft Edge’s chat functionality to present the information I want in a table.

Because an AI model is applied to Microsoft’s core search ranking engine, search queries (from the most basic to the highly complex) are more accurate, relevant, timely, targeted and safe.

Rather than returning pages of URLs that may or may not answer your question, search results are analysed by AI to provide a summarised response to your question.

Let’s say you’re looking for information about being more efficient and productive at work. Instead of scrolling through endless productivity websites, AI takes care of the research for you and returns a single, summarised answer to your question.

These are just a couple of examples of the enhanced search capabilities that will soon be available. But the possibilities are limitless.

2. A new chat experience

Interactive chat will be available to address more complicated queries by asking you a series of questions aimed at finding the best answer to your question.

To search for information about being more efficient and productive at work, the chat might ask you questions about the type of work you do, the tools you use, and your busiest times of the day.

Your original query is clarified and refined until the result most suitable to your particular situation is found.

3. Creation of content just for you

As well as answers to search queries, content generation is increasingly becoming a functionality internet users require.

Microsoft’s new search and browser will be able to create that content for you.

Microsoft Edge’s new chat and compose functionality takes you through prompts to clarify what you’re looking for, then composes specially-tailored content.

Maybe you’re planning a wedding. You need an itinerary of what needs to be done when and by whom. It’ll soon be possible to generate content like wedding plans using information scraped from all over the internet, complete with links to helpful resources.

FAQs

AI and inappropriate content

There are times when search engines return content that is harmful, inappropriate, inaccurate or biased. However, Microsoft has developed AI principles to provide guidelines for implementing responsible AI. These principles ensure that Microsoft’s AI is responsible by design and that safeguards are incorporated.

Likewise, OpenAI has developed guidelines for responding to requests for inappropriate content and for mitigating political and other biases by accommodating more diverse views.

AI is designed to learn, develop and improve its output by applying machine learning algorithms. To learn more about AI and machine learning, explore our content: The Secret of AI and How it Works.

Want to know more about how Microsoft products can transform your business into a modern workplace?

Explore our content: How Microsoft Power Automate Saves You Valuable Time and Money.

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