Rumor: Microsoft Reportedly Developing AI Chatbot for Xbox Users - Here's the Scoop
Microsoft is looking to usher in a new era of customer support as the company's Xbox division is rumored to be working on an AI-powered chatbot. The Verge claims that several sources familiar with Microsoft's plans for AI have said that the software giant is testing an "embodied AI character" that comes to life with animations when the assistant answers questions or interactions. An update about this feature was shared by General Manager of Gaming AI at Xbox Haiyan Zhang, as cited by The Verge. "We are testing the Xbox Support Virtual Agent, an internal prototype of an animated character that can query Xbox Support topics with voice or text", he said.
The development is a broader initiative by Microsoft to apply AI capabilities to its Xbox platform. The primary goal of this integration is to enhance the platform and services for a seamless user experience. "The prototype makes it easier and faster for players to get help on support topics using natural language, taking information from existing Xbox support pages," Haiyan Zhang added in the same statement. A chatbot starts by asking the user, "How can I help you today?" Depending on the answer, it can then help you troubleshoot problems that can range from hardware difficulties to issues with paid subscriptions. The same report from The Verge also indicates that the Xbox AI chatbot is currently being tested internally at Microsoft against support queries for Minecraft Realms.
Microsoft is also currently looking to create AI-powered copilots for safety and moderation tasks. This also includes content moderation on the Xbox platform which will speed up the enforcement and appeals process. This could see the company add an AI-based game assistant that can help players with their gameplay. This also includes experimentation with AI-generated in-game art and assets. It includes AI game testing and generative AI NPCs for which the company has already partnered with Inworld for development. Microsoft is also encouraging its customers to automate support tasks.
Coming back to Microsoft Gaming's new developments, extensive AI efforts have not yet been publicly acknowledged by Xbox employees. The company is currently navigating the assumptions surrounding AI gaming with caution. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is constantly encouraging the company's departments to see how AI can be used in products and services. However, Xbox is mostly focused on the developer side of AI tools right now.