Microsoft to Integrate Copilot AI into Xbox App and Games

Microsoft is expanding its AI capabilities into the gaming realm by introducing its AI Copilot into the Xbox experience. This new feature, known as Copilot for Gaming, aims to enhance your gameplay by offering advice, recalling your last play session, and performing various other tasks to streamline your gaming experience. The rollout will begin with Xbox Insiders through the Xbox mobile app in the near future, allowing for initial testing and feedback.

Copilot, which replaced Cortana in 2023 and is already integrated into Windows, will bring a suite of features to Xbox gaming. At launch, users will be able to command Copilot to install games, inquire about their play history, achievements, and game library, or seek recommendations for what to play next. Additionally, you'll have the convenience of interacting with Copilot directly through the Xbox app while playing, receiving responses similar to how it functions on Windows.

A significant feature of Copilot for Gaming will be its role as a gaming assistant. You can ask it questions about game strategies, such as how to defeat a challenging boss or solve a puzzle, and Copilot will gather answers from Bing, pulling from various online guides, websites, wikis, and forums. This functionality will soon extend to the Xbox app, providing a seamless experience across platforms.

Microsoft is committed to ensuring the accuracy of the information Copilot provides by collaborating with game studios. This ensures that the AI reflects the original vision of the game and directs players back to the source of the information.

Looking ahead, Microsoft has ambitious plans for Copilot's integration into gaming. Potential future uses include acting as a walkthrough assistant, helping players remember where items were left in a game, or guiding them to find new ones. In competitive games, Copilot could offer real-time strategy suggestions and tips to counter opponents' moves, or provide insights into why certain engagements unfolded as they did. While these are currently conceptual ideas, Microsoft is keen on deeply integrating Copilot into regular Xbox gameplay and is planning to work with both first-party and third-party studios to achieve this.

Regarding user privacy and control, Xbox Insiders will have the option to opt out during the preview phase. Microsoft has stated that players will be able to choose how and when they interact with Copilot, whether it can access their conversation history, and what actions it can perform on their behalf. The company promises transparency about data collection, usage, and the choices players have regarding their personal data.

Beyond player-focused applications, Microsoft is also exploring how Copilot can benefit game developers. More details on this aspect will be shared at the Game Developers Conference next week, indicating a broader vision for AI integration in the gaming industry.