Outlook announces ‘Dictation’ to let users compose emails hands-free

According to the company’s official announcement on the Microsoft 365 roadmap, Microsoft has added Dictation Support to its Outlook email service. This new feature, identified by Feature ID 171199, was added to the roadmap on September 20, 2023.

Outlook’s Dictation allows users to compose messages by speaking into a microphone, using speech-to-text technology over a stable internet connection. Moreover, it empowers users to convey their intended tone and nuances precisely, enhancing the quality of their email communications.

This feature looks like a convenient and efficient method for drafting emails, responding to messages, and capturing the desired tone in your communications.

This new Dictation Support feature in Outlook could be useful for individuals who prefer a hands-free email composing method. It can especially benefit users with difficulty typing or those looking to increase their productivity by quickly converting spoken words into written messages. Additionally, this feature could assist in maintaining the intended tone and content of emails, enhancing the overall email communication experience for Outlook users.

In another announcement via Roadmap, Outlook to have ‘time zone prompts’ to enhance meeting scheduling.

The rollout of Dictation Support for Outlook is scheduled to begin in October 2023. This feature will be available in the General Availability phase and can be accessed through the web platform. It will be accessible to Outlook users on the worldwide (Standard Multi-Tenant) cloud instance.