Microsoft is set to redefine the landscape of computer keyboards by introducing a groundbreaking feature—an AI summoning button named the "Copilot key." This innovation, starting this month, will be incorporated into select personal computers running Microsoft's Windows operating system. The Copilot key serves as a direct portal to Microsoft's AI chatbot, offering users a seamless experience with artificial intelligence.

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The move to persuade third-party computer manufacturers to integrate an AI button on laptops marks Microsoft's strategic effort to leverage its strong partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. By positioning itself as a gateway for generative AI technology applications, Microsoft aims to stay at the forefront of the evolving tech landscape.

While the majority of individuals now access the internet and AI applications through smartphones, the introduction of the Copilot key symbolizes a significant step in a highly competitive year for tech companies. As they vie to outdo each other in AI applications, ethical and legal considerations remain unresolved. Recently, The New York Times filed a lawsuit against both OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement related to tools like ChatGPT and Copilot (formerly Bing Chat).

This keyboard redesign stands as Microsoft's most substantial modification to PC keyboards since the introduction of the Windows key in the 1990s. The AI button, marked with the distinctive ribbon-like Copilot logo, will be strategically positioned near the space bar. Depending on the computer model, it may replace the right "CTRL" key or a menu key.

Customized keys are not a new concept, with Apple pioneering it in the 1980s through its "Command" key. Google, too, experimented with an AI-specific key on its now-discontinued Pixelbook. However, Microsoft's influence in the PC market, with licensing agreements with major manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, and HP, gives it a substantial edge. Approximately 82% of all desktop computers, laptops, and workstations run Windows, compared to 9% for Apple's in-house operating system and just over 6% for Google's, as per market research firm IDC.

While Microsoft has not disclosed the specific computer manufacturers adopting the Copilot button beyond its own premium Surface devices, the company anticipates these innovations to be unveiled by some partners at the upcoming CES gadget show in Las Vegas.

(With input from AP)