The new Bing has become popular across the globe since its debut, with millions of users signing up and joining the waitlist to access it. And while it’s still in preview, Microsoft continues to approve tons of requests allowing more people to have a go at it.
Back in March, the tech giant announced that Bing had surpassed 100 million daily active users and attributed that the launch of the new Bing played a significant role in helping it achieve this feat. Since then, Microsoft has integrated AI capabilities across most of its products and services to enhance the user experience.
Today, the company has announced new ways through which users can access and interact with the new Bing as well as new updates to existing app integrations such as Bing, Skype, Microsoft Start, Microsoft Edge Mobile apps, and Swiftkey. Here’s everything you need to know:
Swiftkey
First up, is Microsoft’s Swiftkey which already ships with AI-powered predictive text technology to make texting much easier for users, but this time Microsoft is taking things a notch higher. The company has announced the availability of a new update for the app that ships with new AI capabilities.
Microsoft has integrated Bing into Swiftkey in three major ways, that is, Search, Chat, and Tone. Once you download and install the update to your device, the Bing icon will pop up above the keyboard. From this point, you’ll be able to select how you want to interact with it.
The Chat functionality is in place to help make things easier for the user, whether you are looking up new schools for your kids to attend in a new area after a big move, a nice restaurant within the area, and so on.
As for the Tone feature, you can use it to communicate efficiently and effectively as it lets you customize your text to align with any situation and tone you’d like. This way you get to save a lot of time in case you’re in a slump and unable to send real-time responses.
Additionally, with Bing making its way to Swiftkey, users don’t need to transition between multiple apps when they need to search for something from the web. This functionality is now available within the keyboard thus saving you time and helping you remain focused.
According to Microsoft:
These new features in SwiftKey are accessible in all markets where the new Bing is available; anyone can use Search now, while accessing Tone and Chat requires that you sign into your Microsoft Account that has been approved to access the new Bing preview.
Bing App
Moving on to the translator functionality in the mobile Bing app it now features both masculine and feminine translations to promote gender equality while making translations from English to Spanish, French, or Italian.
Skype
Microsoft has also announced that it’s expanding access for the new Bing in Skype group chats. And while the new Bing has been available to Skype users, this new capability will allow users in Skype group chat to access and interact with the new Bing despite them not being part of the preview.
The company has highlighted only one person in the group needs access. However, you’ll need to add the new Bing to the group chat first by searching for Bing in Skype in your Skype contacts and then adding it to the group.
Microsoft Start
And finally, the new Bing has made its way to the Microsoft Start app. Through the app, users will receive relevant information that resonates with them in one convenient location. This includes a “personalized news feed, including premium content from hundreds of global publishers, keeps you informed and entertained, and the sports scores, weather forecasts, stock prices, shopping deals.”
Let us know which integration you’re looking to make the most out of in the comments below.