Windows Weekly 873: Amino Man!

Mikah, Richard, and Paul discuss Microsoft’s big AI reorg, new Insider builds, a Windows 10 update, Microsoft 365, AI, Xbox, and so much more.

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AI REORG

Microsoft has created a new Microsoft AI “organization” that reports directly to Satya Nadella

• Led by former Inflection co-founders and staffed in part by several ex-Inflection employees
• Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott, who orchestrated Microsoft’s OpenAI partnership, will continue forward in his other role as executive vice president of AI and will remain responsible for Microsoft’s overall AI strategy
• Mikhail Parakhin and the entire team responsible for Copilot, Bing, and Edge, plus Misha Bilenko and the GenAI team, will move into Microsoft AI.
• Rajesh Jha will continue as executive vice president of Experiences & Devices and will “partner closely with Mustafa and team” on Copilot for Microsoft 365.
• What does this mean for Windows? (Paul’s guess: Not much. Windows is still presumably under Jha)

We need a new org chart. An up to date org chart.

Windows

Windows 10 (Yes, 10, not 11) is getting new Sports, Traffic, and Finance cards on the lock screen for some reason – obviously will come to Windows 11 too, but testing first on 10 is … weird

No new Insider builds since last week (!) WHAAAAAT?

Microsoft 365

No AI for you! Microsoft announces perpetual Office 2024 and Office 2024 LTSC for late 2024

AI for you! Microsoft 365 web apps now support Copilot Pro users

Better AI for you! Free Copilot gets ChatGPT-4 Turbo (previously a paid feature)

Related: Microsoft follows Google and AWS, ends Azure egress fees – the other European Big Tech battleground

AI

Apple is almost certainly going to (try to) partner with Google on AI for iPhone

• This is shocking to some, but … sorry, it makes sense
• How the F is Microsoft not part of this? (See above)
• Semi-related: Google I/O is set for May 14, Apple WWDC will be in June, both to focus on AI (duh)

Microsoft to host “AI and Surface event” right before Build 2024 in May – You know, in the wake of the AI and Surface event it will hold tomorrow. (Guess: Businesses now, consumers in May, with new Windows on Arm PCs)

Nvidia is determined to not just ride the AI wave, but win it

In the wake of a subtle rebranding, Google is bringing generative AI to Fitbit

Amazon is bringing generative AI for product pages to sellers

Xbox

New games across Game Pass for the second half of March – including, for the first time, an Activision Blizzard title, Diablo IV

Microsoft is killing the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox … though there is a Rewards tab in your Profile page.

LinkedIn is experimenting with games because everything has to suck now

Sony halts PSVR2 production because no one wants to pay $550 for VR on PS5

Tips and picks

Tip of the week: Steam Sale goes through tomorrow (March 21)

PC gamer? You need to look at this (quickly)

App pick of the week: Stardock ObjectDock 3

If you’re jealous of the Mac Dock for some reason, you’ll want to check out the new version of ObjectDock for Windows 10 and 11. It’s now part of ObjectDesktop, if you already own that, or just $9.99 ($3.99 to upgrade).

Plus: Proton Mail native app is available on Windows and Mac (and Linux in beta)

Plus: Latest Firefox improves Jump lists on Windows

RunAs Radio this week: From SysAdmin to Platform Engineer with Steve Buchanan

https://runasradio.com/Shows/Show/924

Brown liquor pick of the week: Bull Run Oregon Single Malt Whiskey

https://www.bullrundistillery.com/single-malt