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Tag: Microsoft

  • Microsoft Launches AI-Powered Copilot Chat with Pay-as-You-Go Pricing

    Microsoft Launches AI-Powered Copilot Chat with Pay-as-You-Go Pricing

    Microsoft has introduced a new addition to its Microsoft 365 suite called Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, launched on January 15, 2025. This tool is aimed at businesses and comes with a flexible pay-as-you-go model for AI agents, making it a practical option for everyday business operations.

    New Features and Pricing Model

    Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat uses OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-4o, to provide a secure and simple AI chat experience. Basic use of the chat feature is free for all Microsoft 365 commercial customers.

    The standout feature is the consumption-based pricing model for AI agents, which allows businesses to automate repetitive tasks like customer service and internal processes. Here’s the pricing breakdown:

    • Basic Answers: 1 message per response, costing $0.01 per message.
    • Generative Answers: 2 messages per response, also $0.01 per message.
    • Autonomous Actions: 25 messages per action, costing $0.25 per action.

    This model provides a cost-effective alternative to the fixed $30 per user per month subscription for the full Microsoft 365 Copilot.

    Enterprise Data Protection and IT Controls

    Microsoft has focused on ensuring that Copilot Chat is secure and manageable for businesses by including:

    • Enterprise Data Protection (EDP): This feature safeguards company data while using AI.
    • IT Admin Controls: These controls allow businesses to manage agent deployment, access, and usage effectively.

    Strategic Implications

    The pay-as-you-go model is part of Microsoft’s strategy to make AI more accessible and practical for businesses of all sizes. By allowing companies to scale their AI usage based on demand, Microsoft aims to address concerns about the high cost and complexity of adopting AI.

    This move encourages businesses to integrate AI into workflows, enabling employees in customer service, marketing, and technical roles to use AI tools with ease.

    User and Industry Response

    The launch has sparked interest and excitement, with many businesses seeing it as an opportunity to adopt AI without committing to high-cost subscriptions. However, some small and medium-sized enterprises are skeptical about the cost-effectiveness of the model, as usage costs may vary.

    Industry analysts believe this move will put pressure on competitors to introduce flexible pricing or enhance their AI offerings. The integration of AI agents into daily tasks could lead to more efficient and autonomous workflows.

    Looking Ahead

    Microsoft plans to continue expanding Copilot’s capabilities with more sophisticated AI features and deeper integration across Microsoft 365 apps. The company sees AI as a critical tool for the future of business, and this launch is a significant step toward making that vision a reality.

    Links

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/copilot-studio/enabling-agents-in-microsoft-365-copilot-chat/

  • Microsoft Announces New AI Division: CoreAI – Platform and Tools

    Microsoft Announces New AI Division: CoreAI – Platform and Tools

    In an effort to lead the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, Microsoft has launched a new engineering group called CoreAI – Platform and Tools. Microsoft’s Chairman and CEO, Satya Nadella, shared the news in a blog post, calling this move part of the “next innings of this AI platform shift.”

    The Start of CoreAI

    CoreAI was created after over two years of Microsoft’s deep work with AI technologies. The aim is to take advantage of advanced AI models that are transforming all types of software. Nadella explained that technology is evolving at an incredibly fast pace, compressing three decades of growth into just three years.

    CoreAI’s Mission

    The goal of CoreAI is to create a full AI system that helps both Microsoft and other developers build and use AI applications. Several important teams will come together to form this division:

    • Dev Div: Focuses on development tools.
    • AI Platform: Works on AI infrastructure and services.
    • Office of the CTO: Includes teams like AI Supercomputer, AI Agentic Runtimes, and Engineering Thrive.

    Leadership and Structure

    Jay Parikh has been named Executive Vice President (EVP) of CoreAI – Platform and Tools. He will lead the division, supported by key leaders like Eric Boyd, Jason Taylor, Julia Liuson, and Tim Bozarth, all bringing expertise in AI and engineering.

    Goals of CoreAI

    CoreAI will focus on three main areas:

    1. Agentic Applications: Creating tools with memory and advanced model capabilities to serve various industries.
    2. AI-First Application Stack: Building new user experiences, tools for multiple agents, and improving system management.
    3. GitHub Copilot Integration: Enhancing the AI platform with feedback from developers using GitHub Copilot.

    How CoreAI Will Benefit Users

    This new division is expected to:

    • Strengthen Microsoft’s AI Offerings: Making products smarter and easier to use.
    • Support Third-Party Developers: Providing tools to create their own AI-powered apps.
    • Encourage Innovation: Pushing AI research to keep Microsoft ahead in the tech world.

    Industry Excitement

    Tech experts and enthusiasts have expressed excitement about Microsoft’s bold move. Many believe that CoreAI could position Microsoft as a leader in AI application development, just as it did with cloud computing through Azure.

    By forming CoreAI, Microsoft is showing its strong commitment to shaping the future of AI. This new division could bring big changes to software, making it smarter, faster, and more useful for everyone.

    Links

    https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2025/01/13/introducing-core-ai-platform-and-tools

  • Microsoft Releases Phi-4, an Open-Source Small Language Model That Is Now Available on Hugging Face.

    Microsoft Releases Phi-4, an Open-Source Small Language Model That Is Now Available on Hugging Face.

    Microsoft has made its AI model, Phi-4, free and open for everyone to use. This small language model (SLM), introduced in December 2024, is now available on the popular AI-sharing platform Hugging Face. It comes with an MIT license, meaning it can be used for academic research and business projects.

    What Makes Phi-4 Special?

    Phi-4 is a compact AI model with 14 billion parameters. It’s designed to handle challenging reasoning tasks, like solving math problems, and performs just as well as larger, more expensive models.

    Key Features of Phi-4

    1. Efficient Design: Phi-4 shows that smaller models can still perform at a high level without requiring lots of computing power. This makes it easier to use in a wide range of applications.
    2. Versatile Performance: Phi-4 has done better than larger models, such as Llama 3.3 (70B), in tasks like science questions, coding, and benchmarks like GPQA and MATH.
    3. High-Quality Data Training: Microsoft used top-quality synthetic and curated organic data to train the model. This makes Phi-4 accurate and reliable for solving complex problems.
    4. Free and Open-Source: By making Phi-4 open-source, Microsoft is encouraging innovation. Developers can modify and fine-tune it for specific uses, which opens the door to many creative possibilities.

    How to Access Phi-4

    Anyone can download Phi-4 from Hugging Face. The model weights and other resources are available for free, making it easy for developers and researchers to get started.

    Why This Release Matters

    The AI community has welcomed Microsoft’s decision. Posts on social media show excitement about Phi-4’s strong performance and its open-source availability. Many see it as a tool that could improve educational tools, business processes, and productivity apps.

    Microsoft’s Focus on Responsible AI

    Microsoft is also focused on making AI safe and ethical. The company says Phi-4 has gone through careful testing to ensure fairness, privacy, and reliability.

    What’s Next?

    Microsoft has big plans for its AI models. The company plans to create more small, efficient models for specialized tasks. This step not only supports innovation but also pushes other companies to think about open-sourcing their AI technology.

    To explore Phi-4 and its potential, visit Hugging Face today!

    Links:

    https://huggingface.co/microsoft/phi-4

  • Microsoft Announces $3 Billion Investment to Boost AI in India

    Microsoft Announces $3 Billion Investment to Boost AI in India

    In a major push for India’s growing artificial intelligence (AI) sector, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has revealed a $3 billion investment plan. Over the next two years, this funding will expand AI and cloud infrastructure across India, a key step to strengthen the country’s position as a global tech hub. The announcement was made during the Microsoft AI Tour event in Bengaluru, emphasizing Microsoft’s focus on fostering AI innovation in one of the fastest-growing digital markets in the world.

    Key Areas of Investment

    • Infrastructure Expansion
      Microsoft plans to build new data centers to enhance its Azure cloud and AI capabilities in India. This is part of a larger global initiative, following Microsoft’s recent $80 billion investment in AI infrastructure worldwide, set for 2025.
    • AI Skills Development
      As part of the second edition of the ADVANTA(I)GE India program, Microsoft aims to train 10 million people in AI skills by 2030. This initiative will help prepare India’s workforce for an AI-driven future, ensuring long-term technological competitiveness.
    • Partnerships and Startup Growth
      Microsoft has partnered with SaaSBoomi, a community for B2B startups, to promote entrepreneurship in smaller cities. This partnership aims to bring $1.5 billion in venture capital for AI and SaaS startups, boosting innovation beyond major tech hubs.

    Benefits for India

    • Boosting Innovation
      This investment will empower Indian startups, businesses, and government projects to use advanced AI technologies, driving innovation across industries.
    • Economic Growth
      The expansion is expected to create new jobs and encourage entrepreneurship, stimulating the broader economy.
    • Global AI Leadership
      With India already leading globally in AI skill adoption—showing 122% year-over-year growth compared to the global rate of 71%—this investment positions the country to become a key player in AI development.

    Community and Industry Reactions

    The announcement has sparked excitement in India’s tech community. On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), tech enthusiasts highlighted India’s rapid adoption of AI tools and its potential to shape the global AI landscape. Businesses in sectors like healthcare, finance, and education are particularly eager, anticipating improved services and operational efficiency from enhanced AI tools.

    Looking Forward

    Microsoft’s investment aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India an AI-first nation. Beyond economic growth, this initiative will focus on:

    • Regional Development: Microsoft’s efforts to support smaller cities will spread tech-driven growth beyond hubs like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
    • Sustainable AI: With innovations in energy-efficient data centers, Microsoft emphasizes environmentally responsible tech expansion.

    Strategic Implications

    This move places Microsoft in a strong position against competitors like Google and Amazon in India’s digital space. By focusing on partnerships, sustainability, and regional growth, Microsoft is not only accelerating India’s digital transformation but also reinforcing its role as a global leader in AI innovation.

    Links

    https://news.microsoft.com/en-in/microsoft-announces-us-3bn-investment-over-two-years-in-india-cloud-and-ai-infrastructure-to-accelerate-adoption-of-ai-skilling-and-innovation

  • Microsoft to Invests $80 Billion in AI-Enabled Data Centers in 2025

    Microsoft to Invests $80 Billion in AI-Enabled Data Centers in 2025

    In a bold move to solidify its position in the burgeoning artificial intelligence landscape, Microsoft announced plans to invest a staggering $80 billion in AI-enabled data centers globally this year. This massive investment underscores the company’s commitment to powering the development and deployment of advanced AI models and cloud-based applications.

    Over half of this substantial investment will be directed towards building data centers within the United States, reflecting Microsoft’s strategic focus on maintaining American leadership in AI. The company emphasized the critical role of robust infrastructure in driving AI innovation, stating that continued progress hinges on significant investments in both public and private sectors.

    Recognizing the transformative potential of AI while acknowledging the potential economic disruptions, Microsoft called upon the incoming Trump administration to bolster government support for AI research. The company urged increased funding for the National Science Foundation and universities, emphasizing the need to foster a skilled workforce capable of harnessing the power of AI.

    Furthermore, Microsoft highlighted the intensifying global competition in AI, emphasizing the need for a proactive US strategy to ensure American AI technologies dominate the international market. The company views this as a race against other global powers, particularly China, and stressed the importance of swift and decisive action to maintain US leadership in this critical domain.