Will Windows users soon abandon mice and keyboards for voice-activated controls?
In a video released on Wednesday, Microsoft corporate VP Pavan Davuluri discussed how generative AI will unleash new ways to use the OS. “I think what human interfaces look like today and what they will look like five years from now is one big area of thrust for us that Windows continues to evolve,” he said.
Although Windows has been expanding to new device types, such as tablets and even gaming handhelds, “Experience diversity is the next space where we will continue to see voice becoming more important,” Davuluri said.
“So, you’ll be able to speak to your computer while writing, inking, interacting with another person, for example. You should be able to have a computer semantically understand your intent to interact with it, for instance, from when it’s awake or when you put a machine to sleep,” he added.
The Microsoft executive also envisions future Windows devices that’ll be able to view your desktop screen and visually understand the content. “We certainly look at the interface becoming more multimodal and more capable, based on new interaction technologies that come to life,” he said. “And whether that’s mouse and keyboard moving to pen and touch, and so on.”
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This suggests Microsoft wants Windows interactions to become more like the computer from Star Trek or the AI in the film Her. Still, the vision might creep people out since it entails Microsoft’s AI software collecting more of your data. However, Davuluri also mentioned the company using AI models that can run “on the device,” suggesting they can operate without an internet connection and protect user privacy.
Some of these AI capabilities are already available for Windows 11 and internet users through Microsoft’s Copilot AI. But for now, a large number of PC consumers remain on Windows 10, even as the OS is about to officially lose support in October.
3 tips to get the most out of Copilot in Windows 11
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About Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
