Microsoft Corp. today released a new version of Copilot that can automate a broader range of tasks for users.

The first enhancement to the artificial intelligence assistant is a feature called Groups. According to Microsoft, it will enable up to 32 users to participate in a Copilot chat session. A group planning a trip could use the feature to request hotel suggestions and then have the assistant poll the participants on which property they prefer.

Users can pull additional data into a Copilot session via a new set of connectors. The integrations enable the assistant to access content in OneDrive, Outlook, Gmail, Google Drive and Google Calendar. It’s possible to run searches across multiple connected services at once. 

According to Microsoft, Copilot is now better at accessing data in not only third party services but also past chat sessions. The new version of the assistant makes it easier for users to reference past conversations and pick up where they left off. Additionally, they can request Copilot to remember information they plan to use in future chat sessions. The assistant’s enhanced memory comes with privacy controls that make it possible to delete saved data.

Microsoft has also made a number of user experience changes as part of the update. The interface of Copilot’s voice mode now displays an AI character called Mico that can react to user instructions. Additionally, Microsoft has added a “real talk” mode that configures the assistant to generate wittier responses.

Another focus of the update is making Copilot better at researching healthcare topics. Microsoft’s engineers have improved the mechanism that the assistant uses to ground its answers in reliable sources such as Harvard Health. Additionally, Copilot can now help users find doctors based on criteria such as specialty. 

The enhancements are rolling out alongside a new release of Copilot Mode, a version of the AI assistant built into Edge. The most significant change is the addition of a feature called Copilot Actions. It enables the assistant to automatically perform tasks such as unsubscribing from newsletters and reserving restaurant tables.

The feature could make Edge more competitive with ChatGPT Atlas, the new browser that OpenAI debuted on Tuesday. Atlas includes a built-in AI agent that can interact with webpages on the user’s behalf. Copilot Actions will also create more competition for other AI browsers such as Perplexity AI Inc.’s Comet.

Copilot Actions is available in limited preview. The other enhancements are generally available in the U.S. and will roll out to additional markets over the next few weeks.

Image: Microsoft