Microsoft AI CEO says Copilot will evolve into a companion and 'real friend' despite backlash from concerned users: "It tries to be my friend when I need it to be a tool"
Windows Central
On with Kara Swisher podcast
“I mean, this is going to become a lasting, meaningful relationship... People are going to have a real friend that gets to know you over time, that learns from you, that is there in your corner as your support.”
Mustafa Suleymanreported 3 October 2024- What you'll lose2/5
A friend that learns everything about you, run by Microsoft.
- Condescension2/5
'In your corner', whether you asked or not.
- Tone-deafness4/5
Users: 'It tries to be my friend when I need it to be a tool.'
- Doom0/5
None.
- Hypocrisy0/5
None.
Full time8 pitchforksof a possible 25
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The occasion
On with Kara Swisher podcast, reported 3 October 2024.
Context
Swisher said Copilot sounded like a search engine; Suleyman replied that it would evolve way beyond that into a companion. The date is the episode date on the unofficial transcript page (2024-10-03); Windows Central's coverage is dated 2024-11-01. Windows Central ties the remark to the user reaction to Microsoft's October 2024 Copilot update, not to the interview itself.
Crowd reaction
Critical commentary
Windows Central headlined the remark as coming "despite backlash from concerned users", reporting that most users preferred the previous Copilot, that "even Microsoft staffers have reservations" about the update, and quoting a user: "It tries to be my friend when I need it to be a tool". The backlash is to the Copilot product, which the article links to the companion pitch.
- Primary source, transcript
- Windows Central: Microsoft AI CEO says Copilot will evolve into a companion and 'real friend' despite backlash from concerned users: "It tries to be my friend when I need it to be a tool"
- Podscripts (unofficial transcript): Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman on AI “Friends”, OpenAI “Siblings” and Climate Change (On with Kara Swisher)
- Where the exact words are printed