Microsoft (MSFT) has announced that keyboards on upcoming Windows personal computers (PCs) will feature a “Copilot” key that enables immediate access to the company’s artificial intelligence (A.I.) assistant.
Specifically, the Copilot key will allow users to have text conversations with the virtual assistant that was introduced by Microsoft last year.
The addition of the Copilot key is being called the most significant change to the Windows keyboard since the 1994 introduction of the “Start” menu key.
Copilot is an A.I. model backed by start-up company OpenAI and is based on the popular ChatGPT chatbot.
The Copilot feature can compose human-like texts in response to written prompts. People can ask it to write emails, answer questions, create images, and turn on PC features.
Microsoft now includes Copilot on PCs with Windows 10 and 11. Currently, people must hold down the Windows key and push the C key at the same time to launch the Copilot feature.
The technology industry has agreed on a term called the “AI PC,” which refers to special chip components inside devices to run A.I. models more efficiently.
Microsoft said that PCs featuring the Copilot key will be available to consumers starting later in January. The new key will appear on all Microsoft Surface PCs going forward.
Microsoft’s stock has gained 62% over the last 12 months and currently trades at $370.60 U.S. per share.
