Microsoft commemorates its 50th anniversary with significant Copilot updates and nostalgic nods
Microsoft is celebrating its half-century milestone with flair, merging fond reminiscence with cutting-edge technology. As part of the celebrations, the tech powerhouse has reintroduced the iconic Windows 95 logo, released a special edition of Solitaire, and even had co-founder Bill Gates unveil the source code for Altair Basic, which marked the company’s inaugural operating system. However, the focus was not solely on the past—Microsoft’s AI assistant, Copilot, dominated the spotlight with a host of new features and enhancements.
Recently, Microsoft has unveiled a series of announcements regarding Copilot, culminating in a livestream from its headquarters in Redmond, Washington. From fresh tools for developers to AI-enhanced productivity features, here’s a summary of what Microsoft disclosed.
Catch the complete livestream on the Microsoft Copilot YouTube channel.
Copilot Transforms into a Native Windows Application
One of the most significant changes is the transformation of Copilot into a native Windows application. Once primarily a web-based tool, Copilot is now seamlessly integrated into the Windows user interface. The rollout commenced on April 3 for all users, following an earlier launch for Windows Insiders.
According to PCWorld, users are already experiencing a remarkable surge in performance, with some asserting it surpasses the ChatGPT app on Windows. The new native Copilot app can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store, assuming your system is current.
Introducing Copilot Search: Microsoft’s AI-Enhanced Search Engine
Microsoft is challenging Google with the introduction of Copilot Search, a new AI-driven search engine powered by Bing. Users can access the Copilot Search website, pose a question, and receive curated results sourced from various parts of the web.
During testing, Copilot Search excelled, providing recommendations for the top Android phones based on leading reviews and articles. The results featured clickable sources, akin to Google’s AI summaries, and highlighted devices such as the Galaxy S25 Ultra, Google Pixel 9 Pro, and OnePlus 13.
Copilot + PC: Augmented Features for AMD, Intel, and Snapdragon Devices
Microsoft also introduced a fresh initiative named Copilot + PC, which delivers enhanced AI features to devices equipped with AMD, Intel, and Snapdragon processors. New functionalities include:
– Live Captions
– Cocreator
– Restyle Image
– Image Creator
Devices powered by Snapdragon will also receive Voice Access capabilities. These features are slated to be rolled out over the next year, functioning similarly to Live Captions on Apple iOS and Google Android.
New Agent Mode for Visual Studio Code
For software developers, Microsoft is launching a new Copilot Agent Mode in Visual Studio Code. Announced by CEO Satya Nadella during the livestream, this feature assists users in writing, reviewing, and debugging code. It also enables developers to create custom agents tailored to their specific projects.
Agent Mode is presently accessible to VS Code Insiders and will shortly be available to all users on the Stable channel.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Introduces Researcher and Analyst Tools
Microsoft 365 Copilot is raising its intelligence with the addition of two new tools: Researcher and Analyst.
– Researcher aids users in executing intricate, multi-step research tasks in the workplace. It can aggregate data from external platforms like Salesforce and Confluence.
– Analyst leverages OpenAI’s o9-mini reasoning model to analyze existing data, respond to inquiries, generate insights, and even formulate forecasts.
These tools are crafted to simplify workflows and boost productivity across Microsoft 365 applications.
Copilot Gains a Visual Identity—Quite Literally
In a more experimental showcase, Microsoft unveiled a novel avatar feature for Copilot. During the livestream, AI lead Mustafa Suleyman illustrated how Copilot could adopt a visual identity, ranging from distinctive characters to nostalgic icons such as Spyro the Dragon and even Clippy, Microsoft’s well-known paperclip assistant.
While a release date remains unannounced, Microsoft is investigating how avatars could make interactions with Copilot more engaging and personalized.
Copilot Chats with Microsoft CEOs (and Affectionately Roasts Them)
Adding a humorous touch to the festivities, Copilot conducted a light-hearted interview with three Microsoft CEOs—complete with some playful roasting. The segment garnered positive reactions and highlighted Copilot’s conversational prowess in a jovial environment.
Final Thoughts
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, Microsoft not only reminisces about its past but also boldly strides into the future with innovative AI advancements. From an upgraded Copilot experience to new resources for developers and professionals, the company is firmly committed to its AI aspirations—and having a bit of fun along the way.
For additional updates and to view Copilot in action, visit the complete livestream on the official Microsoft Copilot YouTube channel.