SwiftKey for iOS Gains Bing AI Chatbot Integration

[MacRumors]

Microsoft last year said it would be ending support for SwiftKey on iPhone, then only weeks later it backtracked and asked users to "stay tuned" for the arrival of new features. The company has now lived up to its promise with a fresh update that, perhaps unsurprisingly, integrates its ubiquitous Bing AI chatbot into the predictive keyboard app.

There are three components to SwiftKey's new Bing integration: Search, Chat, and Tone. As the names of the first two functions suggest, users can now search the web without leaving the app and chat with Bing to ask additional queries and questions. Microsoft says the features can be used when you're talking to a friend and want to look something up mid-conversation, for example.

The third function, Tone, is more clever. It's designed to make it easier for users to communicate more effectively by allowing Bing to act as editor and reword text to fit a desired tone.

As Microsoft describes it, "Whether you struggle to be formal in your work emails, or you're learning a new language and want help with the nuances of word choice, the Tone feature has got you covered, with tones to make your words sound more professional, casual, polite, or concise enough for a social post."

After updating SwiftKey, users will see a Bing icon above the keyboard, and tapping it brings up the three new features. Anyone can use the Search function, but accessing Tone and Chat requires users to sign into their Microsoft Account, which needs to have been approved to access the new Bing preview.

Article Link: SwiftKey for iOS Gains Bing AI Chatbot Integration

 

[JM]

Microsoft wowing me before Apple?

What parallel universe have I stepped into?

 

[L92]

It's actually working better than ever. Unfortunately Apple doesn't support swipe/prediction in my language and SwiftKey does. It can also do 2 languages at the same time. The bing thing is a nice addition.

 

[cmcbhi]

Yeah, cool.
Why use six words when 13 will do.
No more abbreviations.
SMH.......
chatbotted "I am doubtful that this innovation will catch on"
///sark off
See?

 

[nwcs]

Creating even more of a disconnect between the real person and their written word. Still, maybe this could be incorporated into forums so there will be fewer virulent flame wars? Although given their reputation I can see it creating even more vitriolic ones…

 

[Veerasayz]

Wow, that is really interesting! I had no idea that Swiftkey and Bing were working together to create a chatbot integration. It sounds like this could be a great way for people to save time and get more efficient with their communication. I'm looking forward to learning more about this partnership.

 

[Totorotarrot]

Soon all humans will talk to each other in the exact same style and choice of word as an automated telephone customer service. Then later they can be simplified to use api and protobuff messages. Eventually we don’t need to communicate to each other with words or voice but simply electronic signal via common api wirelessly. How great! /s

I can totally see words no longer are authentic (like photo today). Everything you see electronically have been enhanced or augmented. Words won’t hold up in court anymore because you can say those were edited by a computer.

And someone who used the tone feature sending a message to friends and family members who will no longer understand the message because those people themselves don’t talk like that. (Think immigrants.) what a brave new world…

 

[knirirr]

Unfortunately, there appears to be no way to turn this off. Back to the stock keyboard, then.

 

[nwcs]

Soon all humans will talk to each other in the exact same style and choice of word as an automated telephone customer service. Then later they can be simplified to use api and protobuff messages. Eventually we don’t need to communicate to each other with words or voice but simply electronic signal via common api wirelessly. How great! /s

I can totally see words no longer are authentic (like photo today). Everything you see electronically have been enhanced or augmented. Words won’t hold up in court anymore because you can say those were edited by a computer.

And someone who used the tone feature sending a message to friends and family members who will no longer understand the message because those people themselves don’t talk like that. (Think immigrants.) what a brave new world…

The AI made me do it! The AI confessed for me, I didn’t mean to! The AI lied for me, which is what I was hoping for because it absolves me of responsibility with plausible deniability. Yeah, interesting times ahead…

 

[NEPOBABY]

'I see you are writing a message. Would you like me to spell check it and sell it to a data broker?'

 

[NEPOBABY]

Soon all humans

Don't include me. I am opted out by default from all this ****.

 

[nt5672]

Microsoft wowing me before Apple?

What parallel universe have I stepped into?

Tim Cook's Apple that relies on teenagers and others to respond to his fashion advertising instead of technical innovation, functionality, and quality.

 

[cmcbhi]

The AI made me do it! The AI confessed for me, I didn’t mean to! The AI lied for me, which is what I was hoping for because it absolves me of responsibility with plausible deniability. Yeah, interesting times ahead…

Well, I blame "autocorrect" for all my typos.

 

[ixrated]

Unfortunately, there appears to be no way to turn this off. Back to the stock keyboard, then.

Was also looking for a setting to turn it off but found none. Hopefully they'll include the option in a future update.

Also, you can't activate the AI function of Bing in SwiftKey if you used Sign In With , which is what I used since way back - before SwiftKey was bought by Microsoft.

 

[contacos]

I'll check it out. I am trying to practice another language with a friend but it's always annoying to leave the messaging app, open the translator and then copy paste the sentence. Takes too much time, maybe this will help

 

[hacky]

It's actually working better than ever. Unfortunately Apple doesn't support swipe/prediction in my language and SwiftKey does. It can also do 2 languages at the same time. The bing thing is a nice addition.

This. Apple keyboard is really subpar when it comes to specific language support. While US/English support is fine, there are many languages without any prediction and with broken layout.

 

[I7guy]

Tim Cook's Apple that relies on teenagers and others to respond to his fashion advertising instead of technical innovation, functionality, and quality.

Damn, and it’s working.

However I wonder what the percentage of chatbotted replies are on MR. Why research anything when you can ask a chatbot a question.

 

[Sciomar]

Apple better hurry and implement ChatGPT or something similar into its ecosystem, this is not something you want to be late on.

 

[Veerasayz]

Soon all humans will talk to each other in the exact same style and choice of word as an automated telephone customer service. Then later they can be simplified to use api and protobuff messages. Eventually we don’t need to communicate to each other with words or voice but simply electronic signal via common api wirelessly. How great! /s

I can totally see words no longer are authentic (like photo today). Everything you see electronically have been enhanced or augmented. Words won’t hold up in court anymore because you can say those were edited by a computer.

And someone who used the tone feature sending a message to friends and family members who will no longer understand the message because those people themselves don’t talk like that. (Think immigrants.) what a brave new world…

I think it's important to consider how this shift in communication could create both new opportunities and new challenges. We could take advantage of automated communication to disseminate facts and figures quickly and accurately, and could use it to process customer requests and inquiries in an efficient manner. However, it could also lead to misunderstandings and the loss of a personal connection with people. We must be aware of these risks and work to create solutions that allow us to take advantage of the benefits without sacrificing the important human connection.

 

[coffeemilktea]

Born too late to explore the Earth, born too early to explore the stars, born just in time to have a keyboard powered by generative AI. What a time to be alive.

 

[klasma]

Unfortunately, there appears to be no way to turn this off. Back to the stock keyboard, then.

Knowing Microsoft, I was afraid of this.

 

[klasma]

This. Apple keyboard is really subpar when it comes to specific language support. While US/English support is fine, there are many languages without any prediction and with broken layout.

Even the English prediction and correction is very poor.

 

[dominiongamma]

Yeah, cool.
Why use six words when 13 will do.
No more abbreviations.
SMH.......
chatbotted "I am doubtful that this innovation will catch on"
///sark off
See?

Meanwhile Apple is having fun with emojis…

 

[TechRemarker]

Microsoft wowing me before Apple?

What parallel universe have I stepped into?

Apple’s goal is rarely to be first for first sake. Microsoft has much less to lose and more to gain. Also remember Apple’s is all on device. Microsoft and Google process everything you type on their servers so if enabled make sure to not type anything you’d be worried about a rogue employee or showing up a hacker leak.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Not a big fan of ChatGPT but this actually looks pretty cool.