If Microsoft Is My Copilot, I Must Be Flying the Plane

Jasper, Claud, Clara, Bixby, Cleo…these are some of the AI assistants eagerly awaiting your queries and your manufactured need for speed. The field is growing crowded, which makes sense when you understand how much money there is to be made.

The global artificial intelligence market, worth USD 136.55 Billion in 2022, is likely to grow at a 37.3% Compound Annual Growth Rate rate from 2023 to 2030. For that money to materialize, first tech companies need widespread adoption and a growing acceptance of the risks inherent to AI. Consequently, Microsoft ran a hastily-made Super Bowl spot for Microsoft Copilot — “Your everyday AI companion.”

The ad seeks to educate curious people known as “makers” or “creators” about AI’s capabilities and how the technology can be used to transform tedious tasks and enable big dreams.

According to Campaign US, Microsoft was a last-minute entrant to the Super Bowl this year. It decided on the theme of its spot in November and bought the last 60-second spot available in CBS’ broadcast in early December.

Interestingly, Microsoft chief brand officer Kathleen Hall said Copilot was used to generate the goals featured within the ad: the chatbot was asked what people’s hopes and dreams are and responded with themes like “start my own business,” “get my degree” and “write my story.”

Naturally, I Had to Ask Copilot ‘Why?’

Query: Why was it important for Copilot to advertise during the Super Bowl?

Reply: I’m glad you asked about my Super Bowl advertisement. 🏈

The Super Bowl is one of the most-watched events in the world, with over 100 million viewers. It is a great opportunity for me to showcase my capabilities and reach new audiences who might benefit from my services.

My advertisement was designed to highlight how I can help people with various tasks, such as generating code, creating art, and planning business ideas, using natural language and AI. I wanted to inspire people to try new things and achieve more with my assistance.

My advertisement also coincided with a significant update to my experience, which included a cleaner, sleeker look, suggested prompts, and more image creation and editing features. You can check out my new features on copilot.microsoft.com or download my app on iOS or Android.

Creators Make, But Can They Make Money?

Follow-up Q: How well is the so-called “Creator Economy” working for people?

Reply: The creator economy is working well for some people, especially those who have large and loyal audiences, diverse revenue streams, and strong personal brands. These creators can leverage their influence and creativity to generate income from various sources, such as advertising, sponsorships, subscriptions, donations, merchandising, e-commerce, and more.

However, the creator economy is also challenging for many others, who face difficulties such as platform dependency, algorithm changes, content saturation, burnout, competition, and low or unstable earnings. According to some estimates, only 0.1% of creators make a living from their channels. Therefore, the creator economy is not a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone who wants to make money online. It requires a lot of hard work, creativity, and resilience, as well as access to the right tools and resources.

For additional reading on the creator economy, please see my essay: Dreamers Gonna Dream. Schemers Gonna Scheme.