Microsoft announces new Copilot features on 50th anniversary event [VIDEO]

Microsoft has announced a host of new updates for Copilot and Azure AI Foundry that began rolling out on Friday and will continue into the coming weeks and months.    

The announcement was made at Microsoft’s 50th anniversary event on Friday.

Coding

During the stream, CEO Satya Nadella made a joke that it’s a new world where CEOs can code.

Nadella announced that VS Code users are getting a new Copilot agent mode that will help write and check code that users write.

This one is mostly focused on developers, but if you code apps on Microsoft, you’ll be able to use AI to help you out and even build custom agents based on your code.

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Highlights

Some of the other highlights of the announcement included enhanced memory and personalisation.

Copilot now remembers important details from your interactions, creating richer user-profiles and delivering tailored solutions.

The company said it is also experimenting with new ways to interact with Copilot, including options to change its appearance and customise it to suit your preferences.

Avatar

Basically, Microsoft is working on giving Copilot a face.

During the livestream, Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman brought Copilot to the stage to show off its ability to give itself an avatar that speaks with you.

There were several examples shown, from a totally unique design to existing things like Spyro the Dragon or, for the nostalgic among us, Microsoft’s former helper, Clippy.

However, there was no word on when that feature would come. Still, Suleyman stated that the company remains curious about the possibilities of how users engage with Copilot, and ideas like avatars are where the company wants to explore what it can do.

Another feature included chat prompts where Copilot can take action on your behalf, such as booking event tickets and making dinner reservations behind the scenes.   

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Gaza protest 

During the presentation, Suleyman was interrupted by a protestor slamming the company for AI tools allegedly used by Israeli military forces involved in the Gaza War.

Suleyman was in the midst of a pitch for a host of new features that Microsoft is adding to its AI “companion” software when a female employee in a hijab walked up to him on stage shouting about Gaza.

“You claim that you care about using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. 50,000 people have died,” she alleged.

“You claim that you care about using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. 50,000 people have died, and Microsoft, all of Microsoft, has blood on its hands. How do you all celebrate when Microsoft is killing children? Shame on you.”

Two Microsoft employees spoke out at the company's 50th anniversary celebration in protest of the company's complicity in genocide. pic.twitter.com/KspD4gh8NK

— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) April 5, 2025

‘Voices to be heard’

In a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said they provide many avenues for “all voices to be heard.”

“Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption. If that happens, we ask participants to relocate. We are committed to ensuring our business practices uphold the highest standards.”

Microsoft

Founded on April 4th, 1975, Microsoft went on to strike a deal with IBM to provide software for its first PC in 1980.

This became the foundation of MS-DOS, which dominated IBM-compatible PCs during the ’80s. Microsoft’s early success in developing software for PCs eventually led to the first version of Windows in 1985 and a dream of a PC on every desk and in every home.

Microsoft’s next 50 years look increasingly focused on an AI transformation it’s in the middle of building toward.

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