Microsoft’s Bing is set to undergo a series of AI-driven enhancements, aimed at revolutionizing user experiences and the way people interact with the search engine. These transformative updates were unveiled at a recent event in New York, where Microsoft also introduced a range of Surface devices equipped with integrated AI features.
One of the highlights of this announcement is the integration of OpenAI’s latest DALL-E 3 model into Bing. This advanced image generator was initially introduced to Bing in March, allowing users to create images within Bing Chat. While the initial release’s DALL-E version was unspecified, Microsoft now confirms an upgrade to DALL-E 3. This upgraded model promises even more detailed and lifelike image renderings, particularly for intricate elements like fingers, eyes, and shadows.
In addition to enhancing image generation, Microsoft is reinforcing its commitment to responsible AI practices. Previously, Bing had implemented safety measures to prevent the generation of harmful or unsafe images. With the new update, it will also incorporate invisible digital watermarks into all AI-generated images, a technology referred to as Content Credentials. This innovation uses cryptographic methods and adheres to standards set by the “Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA)” to enhance transparency regarding AI-generated images. Notably, Adobe, Intel, Sony, and other industry leaders have joined the C2PA initiative.
Bing is also becoming more personalized, offering tailored responses to user search queries based on their prior interactions with Bing Chat. Microsoft elaborates on this, stating that “if you’ve used Bing Chat to learn more about your favorite movies, books, or music, future conversations and searches will take those interests into account when providing answers.” Importantly, users have the option to opt out if they prefer their chat history not to influence their search results.
For instance, if a user had previously searched for information about their favorite sports team on Bing, the next time they plan a trip, Bing can inform them if their team is playing in the destination city. Microsoft asserts that this feature will significantly improve search results since many users perform numerous searches on a single topic, with more than 60% of these searches involving tweaking the initial query. By incorporating personalized context from users’ past searches and browsing activities, Bing aims to provide more relevant and efficient search results.
Furthermore, Microsoft plans to extend support for multimodal Visual Search and Image Creator to Bing Chat Enterprise, making these features accessible to over 160 million Microsoft 365 users who already have access to the workplace AI chatbot. These enhancements underscore Microsoft’s commitment to leveraging AI to enhance user experiences and productivity across its ecosystem.
