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ZDNET Highlights
- A study by Microsoft aimed to understand when and how to use AI.
- It assessed 37.5 million anonymized Copilot conversations.
- The flow of personal conversation may not be a good thing.
For many people, AI is more than a means to quickly obtain information; It has become a personal health coach, teacher, confidant, companion – even a therapist. But what are the factors that determine what role technology plays from one moment to the next?
Also: Gemini vs. Copilot: I tested an AI tool on 7 everyday tasks, and it wasn’t even close
That’s the question Microsoft sought to answer in a recent study, analyzing 37.5 million anonymized user conversations with Copilot, the company’s flagship AI chatbot. The results published on Wednesday show that people’s use of AI fluctuates widely depending on time (it looks at time of day, months and year), with stark differences in the types of questions asked on desktop versus mobile; Most notably, the latter are users seeking more personalized advice.
The study shines a bright light on some of the more profound uses of AI chatbots at a time when there is fierce debate over how closely these tools should be integrated into our daily lives, and the risks associated with our personal use of the technology.
conclusion
Previous research has shown that as AI chatbots become more advanced, they are answering different types of questions. A Study For example, a survey conducted by OpenAI in September found that 70% of all ChatGPTT messages are non-work-related (up from 53% the previous year), with “practical guidance” being one of the most common uses (along with “seeking information” and “writing”). One Article A study published by “Harvard Business Review” in April claimed that therapy and companionship were the most common uses of AI.
Also: Using AI for medicine? Don’t do it — it’s bad for your mental health, APA warns
Microsoft’s new study wanted to dig deeper: “While we have a good understanding of what people ‘do’ with AI, we know less about when and how they do it,” the company wrote in its article. full reportThe company collected its own database of millions of conversations between January and September, and excluded any chats from enterprise or commercial Copilot accounts,
One of the most notable findings was the prevalence of health and fitness-related conversations, especially on mobile: it was the third most common topic after “technology” and “work and careers,” highlighting “increasing user trust in Copilot, as people view it not only as a source of information but also as a trusted source of advice,” the researchers wrote in the report.
Variation was also found in conversation over time. On desktop, “work and career” — as you can probably guess — was the most common topic during the weekday (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), while users of both modes tended to be more introspective late at night: Researchers reported an increase in “religion and philosophy” during the wee hours. Conversations about “personal growth and well-being” and “relationships” increased in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day in February and over the holidays as well.
Also: Microsoft gives Copilot a ‘real talking’ upgrade — and an (optional) cartoon face
According to the report, the biggest difference between the two modalities is that desktop users focused more on career-related questions, while mobile users asked more personal questions.
Microsoft researchers note in their report that this could lead to a divide in the future development of AI products: desktop agents that are built for “information density and optimization for workflow execution” on the one hand, and mobile agents that “prioritize empathy, brevity, and personalized guidance” on the other.
zoom out
According to Microsoft, the study reveals a relationship between humans and AI that is multifaceted and nuanced. “By disentangling seasonal, daily rhythms, and device-level differences, we move beyond a monolithic view of ‘AI use’ to reveal a technology that has become integrated into the full structure of human life,” the company wrote in its report.
The company clearly has good reason to portray this as a good thing for individuals and society at large; The more personal and work-related interactions people have with Microsoft’s chatbot, the more effectively it will be able to tailor its outputs to keep users engaged, giving it a sharp edge in competition with other AI industry giants like Google, Anthropic, and Amazon.
Also: FTC investigates OpenAI, Meta and others over AI companion safety for kids
However, it is by no means clear that increasing reliance on misplaced chatbots for personal matters like health and relationships is in our best interests. Some companies like
Still, while we should all be cautious about the personal information we choose to reveal to AI tools, and about the accuracy of the advice they give us in return, Microsoft’s new study helps highlight the fact that these systems are playing an increasingly central and influential role in the world – for better or for worse.
