Xbox dives into artificial intelligence, but with caution

Microsoft brings artificial intelligence to Xbox, but does so with a cautious and measured approach. The first new feature is a chatbot, an animated virtual assistant that will manage online support requests. Sources close to the company reveal that this is only the first step of a broader strategy that aims to gradually integrate AI into the Xbox ecosystem. Although Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has placed AI at the center of the company’s strategy, Xbox has so far remained on the fringes of this revolution. The company used AI models for platform moderation, but avoided integrating Copilot into the Xbox dashboard, as it did with Windows and Office.

This caution is understandable. The Xbox team is aware of the mistrust surrounding AI, especially among gamers and creators, and wants to avoid missteps. In addition to the chatbot, Microsoft is about to introduce a new AI-powered search feature. Described in an Xbox support article, this feature will allow you to search for games using natural language. For example, typing “puzzle games for kids” will give you relevant results, without having to enter the exact title of the game. The new research, already being distributed, will be available to everyone in the coming weeks. It will also be able to handle spelling errors and acronyms, making it easier to find the games you want.

The introduction of AI on Xbox opens up interesting scenarios for the future. It’s easy to imagine features like personalized virtual assistants, game recommendations based on individual preferences, and an overall more intuitive and engaging gaming experience. It remains to be seen how Microsoft will manage this delicate transition phase, balancing innovation with the needs and expectations of players.