Microsoft Corp. MSFT CEO Satya Nadella and executive VP of Windows and Devices Group Terry Myerson announced new updates to Windows 10 on Wednesday, underscoring the company’s aim to combine machine intelligence with human language.
They were addressing developers at Build 2016, Microsoft’s annual mega-gathering of developers.
Nadella spoke about improvements to the Cortana Intelligence Suite and announced previews of new cloud services and toolkits aimed to develop intelligent bots. Myerson, on the other hand, unveiled the Windows 10 Anniversary Update aimed to boost the Universal Windows Platform.
Microsoft plans to roll out the update later this summer.
At Build, Microsoft announced two new additions to the Cortana Intelligence Suite. The first, Microsoft Cognitive Services, will leverage intelligence APIs to allow systems to see, listen, speak, comprehend and infer user’s needs employing natural communication methods.
The second addition, the Microsoft Bot Framework, will allow developers to create intelligent chat bots. The bots can be programmed in any language and will converse with customers on platforms such as Slack, Skype, the Web Office 365, SMS and more.
It also released the Skype Bot Platform that includes API, SDK and Workflows in the new Skype Bot Portal. It will allow developers to incorporate Skype’s video, voice, text and 3-D interactive characters in chat bots.
Moving further, the company introduced the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. The update features innovations for Windows Hello, Windows Ink and gaming.
New Windows Hello will extend Windows 10 security to Microsoft Edge and several other devices. It will enable users to log into websites and devices with enterprise grade security.
Windows Ink, on the other hand, will enable users to write on devices, draw on a whiteboard, create sticky notes and share analog views in the digital world.
Microsoft also shared new tools to transfer apps to Windows 10 from any platform. It unveiled new desktop app convertor for Project Centennial that will allow .NET and Win32 developers to bring more than 16 million apps to Universal Windows Platform and distribute them in the Windows Store.
The company also announced that it has started shipment of Microsoft HoloLens Development Edition that allows developers to integrate holographic computing to Windows experience.
With Microsoft developing all-new abilities for the Universal Windows Platform, it appears that it is preparing to herald a new era of conversational intelligence and personal computing.
At present, Microsoft carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector are Blackbaud Inc. BLKB, MicroStrategy Inc. MSTR and NetSol Technologies, Inc. NTWK, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).
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