Even though AI chatbots seemed the most cutting-edge technology just two years ago, multimodal AI assistants are the latest frontier, with companies rushing to release AI-supported voice assistants. Microsoft is the latest to join the race.
On Tuesday, Microsoft unveiled an updated Copilot, with one of its biggest highlights being the addition of Copilot Voice, a voice assistant that can be interrupted to have multi-turn conversations with you and respond to your emotions.
Also: Every new Microsoft Copilot feature and AI upgrade coming soon to your Windows PC
Copilot Voice has four different voices: Wave, Meadow, Grove, and Canyon. It is available across all platforms that you can access Copilot, including the app, standalone site, and Windows. The biggest perk? It is free for all users.
This means that, unlike ChatGPT’s Voice Mode, you don’t need to spend $20 per month on a premium AI membership to use it. Even though Google’s counterpart, Gemini Live, is free with the Gemini app, it is limited to Android users, whereas Copilot Voice is not.
So, how well does it actually hold up in conversation? I had the opportunity to demo it today at the NYC Microsoft Copilot and Windows Event and was left impressed.
Also: Gemini Live is finally available for all Android phones – how to access it for free
When chatting with the voice option “Wave,” an upbeat male-sounding voice, I was surprised by how enthusiastic the assistant was from the get-go. Despite there being noise in the background, it understood every word I said clearly, even without me annunciating every word like I typically would with a voice assistant.
It also carried out conversations well with quick, witty, and, perhaps most importantly, timely responses, never skipping a beat. The responses were also contextually relevant, which is often an issue with voice assistants as they don’t always understand the intent of what you are saying and, as a result, output bizarre answers.
In a different demo, a Microsoft representative prompted Copilot Voice to help her work through the issue of wanting to adopt a dog without her partner being on board. Copilot Voice diligently worked through the problem, asking follow-up questions to get to know the problem better and offering pretty solid solutions comparable to what a human would suggest.
Also: What’s new in Windows 11 24H2, and when will your PC get it?
So, for the burning question, how does it compare to Gemini Live and ChatGPT’s Voice Mode? In my experience, I found it to be just as good, operating nearly identically. The only major difference is that everyone can take advantage without having to pay for a subscription or own a specific device, which is a win in my book.
The rollout for Voice Mode begins today. If you are interested in accessing it, create a Microsoft account, download the free Copilot app if you plan on using it on your phone, or update the app if you already have it downloaded.
At time of writing, I have access to the updated Copilot on my iPhone 16 Pro from my free account.
Artificial Intelligence
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