At the University of Bath, the Microsoft Suite of Apps is available to all students. The company Microsoft has been developing technology since its beginning in 1975. Delve into the History of AI at Microsoft by watching the video below, or reading through the timeline of events.
Get inspired, get informed, and get ahead with AI!
History of AI Timeline video
Closed captions and a transcript for History of AI Timeline are embedded in the video.
1970-1990: Initial AI Adventures
Back in 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, a company that made computer software accessible to everyday people. The name Microsoft is actually a blend of two words: microcomputer and software.
1990-2000: Pixels with Personality
1995 Microsoft Bob
Microsoft Bob was different from the typical desktop design, instead of the usual columns of icons, Bob transformed your desktop into a virtual house. Each room had icons representing various applications. For instance, clicking on a clock opened the calendar. The program also featured characters like Rover, a friendly cartoon dog, who provided guidance through speech bubbles.
Despite its innovative concept, Microsoft Bob was criticised and discontinued in early 1996.
1997 Microsoft Clippy
Clippy was part of the Microsoft Office suite and aimed to assist users with tasks like writing letters or creating spreadsheets. However, its AI capabilities were quite limited compared to today’s advanced virtual assistants. Clippy relied on predefined rules and patterns rather than machine learning algorithms. Despite its mixed reception, Clippy remains a nostalgic symbol of early attempts at integrating AI into everyday software.
2010-2020: Cortana, Tay and Accessibility
In 2014, Microsoft introduced Cortana, its digital assistant. Cortana’s ability to set reminders, answer questions, and assist with various tasks showcased the power of AI-driven technology in enhancing productivity and convenience.
In 2016, Microsoft introduced another chatbot called Tay. However, Tay led to controversy. It was a chatbot designed to learn from interactions with Twitter users, but unfortunately, it began posting inflammatory and offensive tweets. Within 16 hours, Microsoft had to shut down Tay due to the inappropriate content generated by the bot.
AI and Accessibility
Fast forward to 2018, and Microsoft took a significant step toward accessibility. They launched the AI for Accessibility program, committing $25 million over five years. This initiative aimed to accelerate the development of intelligent AI solutions for people with disabilities.
From Pixels to Possibilities: AI and Your Academics
Microsoft 365 Copilot
In January 2019, a significant event occurred in the world of technology and artificial intelligence (AI): Microsoft and OpenAI, an American artificial intelligence research institution, began a collaboration. These two companies worked together to create a new Microsoft feature called Microsoft 365 Copilot, an AI-powered productivity tool in March 2023.
Copilot is an artificial intelligence chatbot that can complete a range of tasks such as writing essays, creating recipes and more! Microsoft 365 Copilot is the extension of artificial intelligence into each Microsoft app where artificial intelligence serves as an assistant, editor or creator.
Maximising AI for Success
Microsoft has been developing their AI technology a long time and all this work has led to the AI features that are available to users now.
In the next section, I'll share my personal experience using AI capabilities within Microsoft apps. These AI tools have changed the way I work and I am confident they will do the same for you.
As a University of Bath student, you are granted access to Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 free of charge. To make the most of these, there are amazing learning pathways and self-help guides provided by the university to maximise and enhance your productivity in the apps we use to learn.
My AI Highlights as a University of Bath Student
As a student, I am always finding new useful AI features that I find useful. Here are some that I use often.
Microsoft Editor
Microsoft Editor: When I am writing in Word, this AI-powered serive checks my grammar and spelling. My favourite feature is that it recommends areas where I can be more clear and concise, which helps me to stay within the word count for assignments.
Speaker Coach
Speaker Coach: Using Microsoft’s Speaker Coach has been a game-changer for me. It provides real-time feedback on my presentation skills, helping me to improve my pacing, word choice, and clarity. This tool has made my presentations more engaging and effective.
Designer
Microsoft Designer in Copilot is powered by DALL-E and can generate images based on your creative prompts. This can help me to visualise ideas and create tailored images that may bring to life concepts or add to humour in my presentations. Here are some examples of how you can use it:
Respond
