Microsoft’s Bing AI has received an exciting new feature that allows voice input on desktop PCs. While voice input was already available on mobile devices, users can now interact with the Bing chatbot by asking questions using a microphone connected to their desktop computers. Additionally, the chatbot can respond with its own voice, creating a more conversational experience, as reported by Windows Central.
Currently, voice input is supported in a limited number of languages, including English, French, German, Japanese, and Mandarin. It is likely that Microsoft will expand language support as they continue to develop this feature.
To utilize voice input, users simply need to click on the microphone icon in the Bing Chat box and speak their query, waiting for the AI-powered chatbot to provide a digitized voice response. Other than the addition of voice input, the overall experience remains unchanged.
This new feature is significant for Bing AI as it enhances the natural exchange between users and the chatbot, making it feel more like a conversation rather than a traditional search engine-like interaction. Microsoft’s overarching goal is to create a more conversational and engaging experience for users.
Given that voice input was already available on mobile devices, it was only a matter of time before it made its way to desktop users. Voice technology has been an area of focus for Microsoft, evident from the progress made with Voice Access in Windows 11 and inline dictation in Microsoft Word.
Looking ahead, it is likely that Bing AI will incorporate more voice-based controls with the introduction of Copilot in Windows 11. This infusion of AI could potentially bring further voice-based functionalities to the operating system.
The next major step for the Bing chatbot is expanding its availability beyond the Edge browser. Microsoft plans to offer official support for Chrome and other major browsers, moving away from third-party plug-ins, which are currently the only option for using the chatbot outside of Edge.
