WP8.1 voice assistant Cortana opens artificial intelligence

Computer shop news:

WP8.1 voice assistant Cortana is born, let us once again see Microsoft's pursuit of artificial intelligence technology, not so much Cortana It is a voice assistant, but rather a precursor to mature artificial intelligence. This Microsoft Build conference opened Microsoft's new weather, technology and business strategy to fly together, and really make people feel that Microsoft is not just an old enterprise that holds Windows and Office.

Artificial intelligence, learning devices are currently working for both Microsoft and Google. Harry Shum is the head of Microsoft's technology development, and his team is working on the topic of human-computer interaction. At Microsoft Think Next 2014, Harry Shum said:

& ldquo; Our research is moving from personal computers to personal computing. ”

So what is Microsoft busy with? Yoram Yaakobi, head of the Microsoft Israel R&D Center, said that Microsoft is investing heavily in the “invisible user interface”. This invisible user interface, also known as Yoram Yaakobi's UI Next, does not require the user to perform touch input and voice manipulation, and the device knows what the user wants before the user asks. Yoram Yaakobi said:

“ The development of the user interface from command symbols to graphical interfaces, to touch and gestures, from now on, to the invisible user interface. Nothing is needed, and the technology around you can understand what you are going to do. ”

This is what Yoram Yaakobi and Microsoft are doing.

Many people have positioned Cortana as a challenger for Apple Siri and Google's Google Now, but Harry Shum and Yoram Yaakobi have positioned this anthropomorphic sexy virtual assistant to Microsoft's entry into the machine. A step in learning.

From Cortana's position at the Build conference and the reaction of people, Cortana is very important in Microsoft's strategic position. Microsoft machine learning expert Jeannette Wing believes that interacting with Cortana is more like a conversation than a question and answer.

In addition to Microsoft and Google, there are many other technology companies doing cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Jeannette Wing believes that Microsoft has made significant progress, she is so qualitative:

“ We were in the winter of artificial intelligence, however, now we have reached the spring of artificial intelligence. ”

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has a passion for artificial intelligence, investing in an artificial intelligence company, the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. The goal of this company is very interesting, is to let a learning machine pass the high school biology exam. It's just that this computer is still struggling for the fourth-grade biological knowledge. There are also various shortcomings. It is impossible to understand many things. It is still a long way to go through the high school biology exam.

Speaking of the artificial intelligence of the machine, Oren Etzioni, a professor at the University of Washington at Paul Allen, believes that we don’t have to worry about the way the machine thinks. We need the machine and the human brain to have the same input and output. Yes. Just like you don't have to worry about the shape and structure of the plane like a bird, as long as it can fly, you can cross the Atlantic.

If the machine that passes the high school biology exam is still very far away from people, I believe that many people have been delayed by some elevators whose algorithms are not intelligent. In fact, Microsoft has also been researching smart elevators based on artificial intelligence. Based on sensors and learning systems, after a period of learning, the elevator can understand the passengers' needs in advance.

Similarly, Peter Lee also said that Microsoft's biggest focus now is on artificial intelligence. He gave an example to describe how much the elevator will be smart:

“If the elevator's intelligent system is fully familiar with the environment, and now it is time for lunch, but you made an appointment with your colleague yesterday. Going to the second floor for lunch, when you leave the office and ready to take the elevator, the smart system can monitor your movements and take you to a colleague without any action. ”