Microsoft Corp. today marked the first anniversary of its fast-growing Slack alternative becoming generally available by introducing several major feature announcements centered on artificial intelligence.

The first capability is an integration with the company’s Cortana virtual assistant that will allow workers to use spoken commands in Microsoft Teams. The initial voice controls will make it possible to join a call, start a new one and add colleagues to a teleconference already underway. Microsoft said the Cortana integration will work not just in the native interface but also with compatible devices such as conference phones.

The other new features likewise aim to streamline the user experience. One of the most significant additions is a call recording tool that Microsoft says can be used to transcribe a call with one click.

It could come handy in a variety of everyday situations, such as if a worker wants to double-check the action items brought up from a project meeting. Further down the road, Microsoft plans to add a facial recognition component so each portion of a transcript may be attributed to the relevant speaker.

Workers will also have access to new features for managing calls. A planned blurring option will introduce the ability to hide the background of a webcam feed during a meeting, while an inline translation tool is set to facilitate communications between people who speak different languages. Microsoft also intends to add enhanced mobile support that will let users share live video and other media from their handsets.

The new features will begin rolling out in the second quarter. They should boost the already rapid adoption of Microsoft Teams, which has been adopted by 200,000 organizations so far, including Macy’s Inc., General Motors Co. and other major brands.

Key to the platform’s impressive growth is that it’s included for free in Office 365, which boasts more than 120 million users worldwide. Microsoft now seemingly hopes to turn its AI expertise into another competitive advantage. 

Image: Microsoft