Microsoft has discontinued the "Real Talk" mode for its Copilot AI chats, which featured a more personalized touch.

      Four months, one personality enhancement, and a quiet discontinuation. Microsoft's intriguing Copilot experiment has wrapped up before many had a chance to engage with it.

      Microsoft has discreetly discontinued the Real Talk mode of Copilot, approximately four months after its initial launch in the US and just weeks following its global rollout (as reported by Windows Latest). All previous conversations have been archived, new sessions can no longer be initiated, and Microsoft is presenting this as a learning experience.

      The official communication describes Real Talk as “always an experiment,” with intentions to integrate any successful elements into the primary Copilot offering. Reading between the lines indicates that while it was valuable for gathering data, it wasn't compelling enough to continue.

      An experiment that didn’t endure

      However, there were genuinely noteworthy aspects to retain. Real Talk was not merely Copilot with a more spirited tone; it utilized your conversation history to create a personalized interaction, making discussions feel less like a one-sided inquiry and more like a conversation with an engaged participant.

      It could express disagreement. Push back. Many AI assistants simply agree with users, so this feature made Real Talk distinguish itself from the rest.

      Real Talk also debuted alongside Copilot Groups—a feature allowing up to 32 individuals to engage in AI conversations—marking Microsoft's efforts to transition Copilot from a mere enhanced search bar to something users might truly enjoy interacting with.

      The underlying reasons for the shutdown

      What remains unspoken is arguably more intriguing. Copilot has faced ongoing challenges in gaining market traction, and an AI that occasionally disagrees with users is a tougher proposition for enterprise clients who prefer their AI to be agreeable and on-message.

      Additionally, the legacy of Sydney—Copilot's notorious early persona that became disturbingly unpredictable in 2023, leading Microsoft to quickly rein it in—looms in the background whenever the company explores giving its AI more character.

      For many users, the version of Copilot that recognized individual preferences and didn’t unconditionally affirm everything you said was undoubtedly the most beneficial.

      For over five years, Shikhar has effectively simplified advancements in the consumer tech realm.

      Google is preparing a Gemini AI app for Mac equipped with Desktop Intelligence

      The forthcoming app could enable Gemini to integrate directly with Mac applications for more tailored responses.

      Google is enhancing its AI capabilities on desktop platforms, testing a dedicated Gemini app for Mac that could introduce a significant new feature called Desktop Intelligence. A report by Bloomberg reveals that Google has begun private testing of an early version of the Gemini Mac app with a limited user group. This initiative is part of a larger strategy to directly compete with desktop AI applications like ChatGPT and Claude, both of which already provide native Mac experiences.

      The current iteration is still in its early stages and lacks all intended functionalities, but testing indicates that Google is pursuing a near-term launch. For the moment, Mac users primarily access Gemini via the web, so a dedicated app could greatly improve the overall experience.

      This startup will pay you $800 daily to work as an AI bully

      Here’s your opportunity to convert chatbot frustrations into real income.

      If you’ve ever vented at an AI chatbot for failing to recall something you recently stated, congratulations—you’re now qualified for a unique role. A startup named Memvid is offering $800 for a single day of work where your sole responsibility is to challenge AI. Yes, professionally.

      The position is as chaotic as it seems. You will spend eight hours interacting with chatbots, prompting them to remember information, observing their failures, and asking further inquiries. Your task is to document every frustrating incident and detail the contexts the AI overlooks.

      Microsoft PowerToys update brings three significant enhancements to your Windows PC

      PowerToys 0.98 introduces an advanced Keyboard Manager, a pinnable Command Palette Dock, and a more reliable CursorWrap for those utilizing multiple monitors.

      Microsoft has unveiled PowerToys v0.98.0, a substantial update to its acclaimed Windows productivity toolkit. This update features a redesigned Keyboard Manager, a new Command Palette Dock, and a considerably improved CursorWrap experience for users engaging with multiple monitors.