From Fortune:

Microsoft is introducing a new “Copilot key” on some PCs running Windows that launches an AI chatbot. The move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Microsoft’s leadership in AI technology, despite ongoing legal and ethical challenges in the industry.

The keyboard redesign represents Microsoft’s biggest change to PC keyboards since the 1990s. The new AI button will bear the Copilot logo and be positioned near the space bar. This represents a significant shift in computer-integrated AI technology.

Although Microsoft is not the first company to introduce customized keys, it does hold a strong grip on the PC market with its licensing agreements, contrasting with Apple and Google’s minimal market shares. Companies are expected to unveil their new AI-integrated models at the CES gadget show next week.

The move reflects growing competition as tech companies race to outdo each other in AI applications. Microsoft and OpenAI were sued by The New York Times last month, alleging their AI tools (including Copilot) were built by infringing on copyright material, raising questions about the legal ramifications. The integration of AI technology into everyday computing is a symbolic step in the intensifying AI race.



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