Microsoft has been trialing a new AI-powered Xbox chatbot, and now Xbox Insiders in the US have the chance to experience it firsthand. This new “Xbox Support Virtual Agent,” which was initially revealed earlier this year, is now available at support.xbox.com. Microsoft describes it as a tool specifically crafted to help Xbox players more quickly and effectively address support-related issues on their consoles and games. Megha Dudani, the senior product manager lead at Xbox, stated, “Feedback from Xbox Insiders is incredibly valuable, and we will use any responses to improve the Support Virtual Agent.”

This AI-powered assistant will take the form of an animated AI character or a vibrant Xbox orb while responding to user queries. The chatbot’s rollout is part of Microsoft’s broader push to integrate artificial intelligence across the Xbox platform and associated services. In the near future, players can expect even more AI-driven functionalities on their Xbox consoles. Although Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, has advocated for a company-wide focus on AI, the Xbox team has taken a more measured approach to integrating AI features, previously concentrating primarily on AI tools for game developers. However, the introduction of this support chatbot signifies a notable shift in Microsoft’s approach to consumer-facing AI on the Xbox platform.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Microsoft has been exploring various applications of AI within gaming, which go beyond simple support. These include generating game assets and artwork through AI, using AI for game testing, and even creating generative AI NPCs in collaboration with Inworld. There are also ongoing experiments with AI-driven game content creation and enhancements across the Xbox ecosystem.

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Topics #AI #Artificial intelligence #Chatbot #Microsoft #news #Testing #Xbox #Xbox Chatbot