Microsoft’s head of AI, Mustafa Suleyman, has revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) assistants with “really good long-term memory” are just around the corner, set to arrive within the next year. These advanced AI products will be able to recall conversations, projects, and problems, encouraging users to invest more time and share more of their personal history with them.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Suleyman shared his vision of a future where AI assistants will be ever-present, persistent, and highly capable co-pilot companions in our everyday lives. However, critics have raised concerns about the integration of such advanced AI technology, citing issues such as data security, privacy, the potential for AI tools to give bad advice or wrong information, and the risk of displaying bias towards the user they are meant to assist.
Despite these concerns, AI supporters argue that for these tools to be truly useful, they must be deeply embedded in our lives, understanding the history and context behind the tasks they are assigned. For example, an AI diary manager can only effectively organize your schedule if it has access to your diary, can edit it, and retains information about your activities.
Suleyman pointed out that people’s privacy expectations have evolved over time, noting that devices like TVs, laptops, phones, in-car cameras, and earbuds are already recording continuously in ordinary environments. He highlighted features like the iPhone’s Live View, where video and audio are recorded alongside a photo, as examples of shifting privacy norms.
Microsoft has invested heavily in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, positioning itself as a market leader in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. While some research suggests that people are not consistently using AI tools, Suleyman remains optimistic about the technology’s future growth and adoption.
The tech giant has unveiled new additions to its AI assistant range, CoPilot, including a voice function, a daily news digest, and a slower chatbot for more complex questions called Think Deeper. Additionally, CoPilot Vision, a tool within the Edge web browser, will observe web pages and assist with online activities, with Microsoft emphasizing data privacy and user control.
Despite some setbacks, such as the temporary pause on the AI tool Recall due to privacy concerns, Microsoft remains committed to advancing AI technology. With the promise of AI assistants with exceptional long-term memory on the horizon, the future of AI integration into our daily lives looks increasingly inevitable.
