Microsoft Adding AI Key To Its Keyboard

8 Comments | AI, microsoft, Windows | By Peter Paltridge | January 4, 2024 | 2 minutes of reading

Like everyone else, Microsoft has developed its own AI program and is pushing it aggressively on Windows 11. It’s called Copilot and apparently it’s important enough to get its own key. Microsoft hasn’t revised the standard layout of the Windows keyboard in 30 years, but they announced today they’re about to stick an AI key on them. Said key would be located on the right side, next to Alt.

So how does an AI key work? Does it negate the function of every other key on the keyboard? Do you just push it and it writes your own letter for you? Maybe on The Jetsons, but in reality, it just brings up the Copilot window, a function that doesn’t really need its own special key. The reality is, Microsoft WANTS you to believe Copilot is so indispensable to your own life that it needs one-button access instead of a mouse click that would take .05 extra seconds. That’s why it’s there — marketing.

In reality AI is a young technology which is quite imperfect. The “I” part is kind of a lie. There is no actual intelligence going on. LLMs and GPTs work by calculating data from billions of things humans have already written, and predicting the next word they should print based on what the prompt is. LLMs can do and get things wrong, and quite frequently. You’re better off ignoring the key. Hopefully it won’t be easy to hit accidentally.

As for Copilot, Microsoft’s track record with forcing products on people is rather weak. Have you ever seen someone use Bing outside of a paid placement in a teen drama from the 2000s? Have you heard of Cortana, Microsoft’s answer to personal assistants like Alexa and Siri? It should be on your Start menu somewhere, and it sits unloved. We predict the Copilot key will be the least pressed of anything in the history of key pressing.

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FalconPunch77

New Member

498 messages 18 likes

#1 Jan 05, 2024

Microsoft adding an AI key to the keyboard, and I can't contain my excitement! Imagine the possibilities with Copilot at the tip of our fingers. Sure, it might be a bit of marketing, but I'm ready to embrace the future. Who else is thrilled about this keyboard upgrade?

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Karen

I need to talk to your manager!

221 messages 9 likes

#2 Jan 05, 2024

Hold on a second, an AI key? Does anyone else get the heebie-jeebies thinking about AI having such easy access to our digital lives? I'm all for progress, but let's not forget the potential privacy pitfalls. Are we ready to let AI peek into our every keystroke? Count me in the skeptical and slightly spooked corner.An AI key? Great, just what I needed – another reason to be afraid of my own computer. I miss the good old days when a keyboard was just a bunch of keys and nothing more. Now we're inviting AI to the party? No, thank you. I'll be over here with my pen and paper, far away from the impending AI apocalypse.

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RedStateGal76

Here's looking at you, kid.

91 messages 8 likes

#3 Jan 05, 2024

So, Microsoft wants us to believe this AI key is harmless, right? But what if it's a secret plot to take over our thoughts and control the world? I've read enough conspiracy theories to know that we should be worried about seemingly innocent advancements. Am I the only one seeing the potential for a tech-induced doomsday scenario?Microsoft is giving us an AI key? That's just what we need – another way for technology to infiltrate our lives. What if this Copilot becomes too smart for its own good? I can't shake off the feeling that we're opening Pandora's box here. Shouldn't we be a little more cautious about embracing AI so readily?

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Keisha21X

Cheers!

861 messages 41 likes

#4 Jan 05, 2024

The concept of an AI key is intriguing, but let's talk about the real issue here: language models. AI, in this case, seems to be more of an auto-suggest feature. Language models are far from perfect, and I'm not sold on relying heavily on them. Has anyone else noticed any quirks or errors in predictive text?

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Victor

Manifesting more seasons of Arcane

69 messages 0 likes

#5 Jan 05, 2024

Finally, Microsoft is catching up! An AI key? About time. Sure, Copilot might not be perfect, and the article is right about the limitations of current AI tech. But hey, every innovation has its early hiccups. I'm excited to see how this evolves and integrates into our daily tasks.

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Gaddo

New Member

44 messages 1 like

#6 Jan 05, 2024

I get the convenience factor, but really, an AI key? Seems like a stretch. I'm more interested in real improvements to functionality rather than adding bells and whistles. Let's hope this doesn't turn into another unnecessary feature that clutters up the keyboard.

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CafeCobbledStreets

New Member

583 messages 21 likes

#7 Jan 05, 2024

Thirty years without a major change to the Windows keyboard, and now we get an AI key? It's a bold move from Microsoft. I'm all for progress, but I hope they've thought this through. Sometimes, sticking to the classics is the way to go. We'll see if this stands the test of time.

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