Microsoft introduces AI chatbot button on new PC keyboards

Microsoft is set to update its Windows PC keyboards by adding a dedicated AI assistant button named Copilot, anticipated to be announced by 2024. This key, the first major change to the keyboard design in about three decades, will replace either the right “CTRL” key or a menu key, depending on the keyboard model. The integration of this new button will allow users to quickly access AI-driven productivity tools for tasks such as organizing files and windows or conducting searches for information.

This development reflects a broader industry shift towards incorporating AI into consumer electronics and computing devices, as evidenced by similar announcements from tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Meta. The Copilot key is expected to debut on keyboards from Microsoft's OEM partners as early as February, with some models likely to be showcased at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas. The introduction of the AI button comes amidst a backdrop of competitive advances in AI technology among tech firms and recent legal scrutiny, highlighted by a lawsuit from The New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged copyright infringement with AI tools.