Microsoft Teams To Get Smarter Copilot AI Features

Microsoft Teams, a ubiquitous communication platform for businesses, is receiving a significant upgrade with enhanced Copilot AI features. Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant, is becoming more integrated within Teams, offering functionalities designed to streamline communication and collaboration. This article delves into the details of these new features and explores how they can empower Teams users for a more productive work experience.

In short:

• Microsoft Teams integrates its AI assistant, Copilot, with improved features for chat and meetings.
• Copilot can now rewrite messages, summarise calls, and offer intelligent camera switching for Teams Rooms.
• These features aim to make collaboration in Teams more efficient and productive for both in-person and remote participants.

Copilot AI Features Coming to Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is introducing a variety of Copilot AI features that address different aspects of communication and collaboration within the platform. Here’s a breakdown of the key functionalities:

• Smarter Chat Composition: Struggling to craft the perfect message? Copilot can now analyze your draft and offer suggestions for rewriting it. You can choose to adjust the tone, add a call to action, or even rewrite the message in a specific style, like a friendly greeting or a more formal approach. This feature can save time and ensure your message effectively conveys the intended tone and information.
• Intelligent Call Recap: Remembering key points from lengthy meetings can be challenging. Copilot tackles this issue by offering intelligent call recaps. This feature merges the conversation transcript with the spoken dialogue from the meeting, providing a comprehensive overview of what was discussed. This allows participants to easily catch up on missed meetings or quickly refresh their memory on important details.
• Enhanced Meeting Experience for Teams Rooms: Teams Rooms are designed for video conferencing in dedicated meeting spaces. To improve the experience for remote participants, Copilot is introducing intelligent camera switching within Teams Rooms. This AI-powered feature automatically adjusts the camera view to ensure everyone in the room is clearly visible. Additionally, speaker recognition capabilities are coming soon, further enhancing the accuracy of meeting transcripts for Teams Rooms on Windows environments.

Steps to Use Copilot AI Features in Microsoft Teams

Step 1: Open Teams Chat and Find Copilot Icon.

Step 2: Compose Message, Click Copilot Icon for Rewrite Suggestions (Feature Under Development).

Step 3: Access Copilot from Meeting “Recap” Tab for Future Intelligent Summaries (Coming Soon).

Step 4: Use Right-Click “Open Copilot” on Message Draft for Rewrite Options (May Vary by Teams Version).

How Will Copilot Use AI for These New Features

Copilot uses various AI technologies to power its functionalities within Teams.

• Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP allows Copilot to understand the context and intent of your messages in chats. This enables features like message rewriting and suggesting different writing styles.
• Speech Recognition and Machine Learning: By integrating speech recognition and machine learning algorithms, Copilot can transcribe meeting conversations and merge them with chat messages, creating a comprehensive call recap.
• Computer Vision: For the automatic camera switching feature in Teams Rooms, Copilot utilizes computer vision to identify participants within the meeting space and adjust the camera accordingly.

Copilot AI Features Making Collaboration Smarter

• Microsoft Teams Copilot (or Copilot for Teams), the built-in Teams AI assistant, is getting a major upgrade.
• New smart collaboration tools include:
  • Rewriting messages for improved clarity and style.
  • Generating intelligent call recaps with transcripts and chat summaries.
  • Automatic camera switching in Teams Rooms for better visibility in video meetings.
• These AI features empower users to work more efficiently and collaboratively within Teams.

Better Hybrid Meetings with Copilot AI Features

Microsoft Teams AI features powered by Copilot are transforming hybrid meetings. Gone are the days of remote attendees feeling disconnected. Smart collaboration tools like automatic camera switching in Teams Rooms ensure everyone’s seen, while intelligent call recaps with transcripts keep everyone on the same page. Copilot is making hybrid meetings a seamless experience for all.

Benefit Of Copilot AI Features in Microsoft Teams for People

The enhanced Copilot features offer advantages for various users within the Teams ecosystem:

• Individual Users: Anyone using Teams for communication can leverage Copilot for improved message composition and catching up on missed meetings through intelligent call recaps.
• Team Leaders and Managers: Team leaders can utilize Copilot to ensure clear and concise communication within their teams through smarter chat suggestions. They can also benefit from call recaps for efficient post-meeting follow-ups.
• Remote Participants: Remote workers can enjoy a more inclusive meeting experience with the automatic camera switching feature in Teams Rooms, ensuring they have a clear view of the in-person participants.

Microsoft Teams’ Use of Copilot AI vs Other Platforms

Feature	Microsoft Teams (Copilot)	Slack	Google Meet	Zoom
Native AI Assistant	Yes (Copilot)	No (integrations with third-party AI tools)	No	No
Message Composition	Suggests rewrites for improved clarity and style	Limited integrations for message summarisation	None	None
Meeting Summarization	Intelligent call recaps with transcripts and chat merged	Third-party integrations might offer message summarisation	Automatic captions	None
Video Conferencing	None	None	Noise cancellation, automatic captions	Real-time translation, speaker identification
Team Rooms	Automatic camera switching for better visibility	None	None	None (but may be planned for Zoom Rooms)
Data Privacy	Unclear yet, user control options expected	Relies on privacy policies of third-party integrations	Focuses on user control over data collection	Focuses on user control over data collection

While other platforms offer specific AI features, Microsoft Teams’ Copilot integration stands out for its comprehensive approach. It addresses communication needs (message composition) and collaboration needs (meeting summaries, video conferencing enhancements) within a single platform.

Expanding Teams Phone and Customer-facing Role Capabilities

• Enhanced Uptime: Microsoft Teams Phone is boosting its service level agreement to a guaranteed 99.999% uptime, ensuring even more reliable connections.
• Improved Call Continuity: Survivable calling capabilities are expanding with the addition of call transfer, forwarding, and call queue/auto attendant functionality during network outages.
• Teams Phone Mobile on the Rise: New partnerships with AT&T, Odido, Virgin Media O2, and Vodafone UK will bring Teams Phone Mobile to more users later this year, allowing a single number experience across Teams and mobile devices.
• Queues App Streamlines Customer Interactions: A new Queues app (currently in private preview) will simplify call management for customer-facing teams. Supervisors can manage workloads, monitor performance, and assign calls, while agents have a clear workspace to handle customer interactions. This app is expected to be generally available in June with Teams Premium.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Microsoft Teams AI features, powered by the innovative Copilot, are revolutionizing collaboration. From smart message composition to intelligent call recaps and automatic camera switching in Teams Rooms, Copilot empowers users to work more efficiently and inclusively. As Microsoft Teams continues to integrate cutting-edge AI, the future of teamwork looks brighter than ever.

Microsoft Teams To Get Copilot AI Features – FAQs

Can I do AI-powered camera switching in Teams Rooms?

Yes, Microsoft Teams will soon offer AI-powered camera switching in Teams Rooms to ensure everyone is visible.

Does Microsoft Teams have automatic call summaries?

Yes, Microsoft Teams with Copilot will offer intelligent call summaries that merge transcripts and chat messages. 

How to use Copilot in Microsoft Teams chat?

You can access Copilot’s message rewrite function by clicking the Copilot icon and selecting “Rewrite” in the chat window.

Best AI features for Microsoft Teams meetings?

Some of the best AI features for Teams meetings include message rewriting, intelligent call summaries, and automatic camera switching. 

Does Microsoft Teams use artificial intelligence?

Yes, Microsoft Teams uses AI functionalities through its assistant, Copilot. 

What is the difference between Copilot and Teams?

Copilot is an AI assistant integrated within Microsoft Teams, not a separate platform. 

What is Microsoft Teams AI called?

Microsoft Teams’ AI assistant is called Copilot.

Can Copilot transcribe audio to text?

Copilot currently does not offer audio-to-text transcription functionalities within Teams chats.