Microsoft promotes Jacob Andreou to lead Copilot AI strategy amid competitive challenges

Microsoft is continuing its push to bring generative AI (genAI) into Excel, with new Microsoft 365 Copilot skills designed to automate common processes and a “plan” mode to provide more control over Copilot’s outputs when handling financial data. Microsoft made Microsoft 365 Copilot generally available in Excel in late 2024 and since then has added several capabilities, including agentic tools, a Copilot function within Excel, and Python support for advanced data analysis.   On Thursday, Microsoft unveiled a skills feature that lets users define processes Copilot can perform in Excel — such as building a discounted cash flow, Microsoft suggested, preparing a variance analysis, or refreshing a monthly reporting model.   “Instead of starting from scratch each time, a skill guides Copilot through the steps, applying the right structure and formatting, and helping produce an output that is easier to review, reuse, and trust,” Brian Jones, vice president for Excel at Microsoft, said in a bl

The rally highlights a shift in investor sentiment, recognizing AI's revenue potential, potentially boosting tech sector valuations. The post Microsoft stock rises 5% as investors shift focus to software after Snowflake earnings spark sector rally appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The amended lawsuit could reshape legal standards for tech partnerships, impacting AI development and investor confidence in tech giants. The post New York Times amends copyright complaint against Microsoft and OpenAI over supercomputer allegations appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

NYT shifts OpenAI/Microsoft copyright claims after SCOTUS ruling against Sony.

Following a seven-month investigation, the European Commission has reached a preliminary decision that Amazon’s and Microsoft’s cloud platforms — AWS and Azure, respectively — should be classified as “gatekeepers” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Reuters reports. The DMA, also known as the Digital Markets Regulation, aims to limit the market power of dominant players. For cloud services, this would entail, among other things, requirements for increased interoperability and data portability, as well as restrictions on how these services might favor their own products and services. The Commission pointed, among other things, to AWS and Azure’s large market shares, extensive investments, large customer bases, and high costs for customers who wish to switch providers. If the decision is approved, the companies would be subject to the same type of regulations that apply to several of the largest technology platforms. Both Amazon and Microsoft were critical of the assessment. Amaz

For years, Microsoft has hyped Windows 11 cas an OS with AI, and the company is finally putting the building blocks in place for that transformation. Microsoft execs shared examples of how the company is integrating AI in Windows 11 at its Build event earlier this month, highlighting how AI models and agents will make the OS smarter, allowing users to interact with it using natural language and intent. Specifically, Windows 11 PCs will provide unmetered intelligence so users can run AI for free without a network connection. “No token cost. No sensitive data leaves the device. It also reduces latency,” Anastasiya Tarnouskaya, product manager for Windows ML, said during a Build session. Hardware makers introduced AI-capable hardware before the applications were available. But Tarnouskaya said more than 500 million PCs are already running local AI workloads. “Thanks to recent advancements in AI models, hardware, and the software stacks that run them, today, every Windows PC is becoming in

Rising AI-driven chip costs may slow consumer electronics sales, impacting tech giants' revenue and prompting shifts in market strategies. The post Apple and Microsoft raise prices as AI-driven memory chip costs quadruple appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Rising AI-driven memory costs could reshape consumer electronics, pushing prices higher and altering market dynamics through 2027. The post Microsoft raises Xbox prices by $100 amid AI memory crisis appeared first on Crypto Briefing.