Microsoft is preparing to launch a significant update for its Bing AI, this time with the spotlight on mobile applications. This is happening just after a series of enhancements have been made to the desktop counterpart, and there’s a substantial amount of information to take in.
Firstly, the Bing app (opens in new tab) will now allow users to incorporate a Bing Chat widget onto their “iOS or Android home screen”. This feature offers direct contact with the AI, allowing you to either type your question into the text field or verbally ask it by tapping on the microphone icon. Whether you’re starting a fresh chat or continuing a prior conversation, Microsoft is implementing the often-demanded feature of “continuous conversations across platforms”. This means that discussions initiated with Bing on your desktop can be seamlessly continued on your mobile device, and vice versa.

The most recent update to the Bing app introduces expanded support for multiple countries and languages, extending its reach to a broader global audience. However, Microsoft has not provided a comprehensive list of these new additions (despite our inquiries). The company also asserts that it has “enhanced the quality for non-English chats”, but has not specified the extent of these improvements.

Our focus now shifts to the secondary app, SwiftKey, which will introduce a Compose function designed to aid in creating text “tailored to your specified parameters”. These factors include the subject, mood, length, and structure, the last of which could be especially beneficial for crafting emails. Of course, you will have the freedom to revise these drafts. SwiftKey is set to include two additional tones – Witty and Funny – elevating the total to six. As such, if you fancy Bing churning out some amusingly cringe-worthy dad jokes, you’re in for a treat (but do exercise discretion when using this capability). Furthermore, the AI-enhanced Translator currently available on Android is scheduled to launch on iOS “in the next week or so”.

Finally, it’s important to note that Bing’s generative AI will become a standard feature in all group chats on Skype. To utilize this feature, all you need to do is enter “@Bing” into a chat.