I only recently downloaded the Microsoft Copilot app for my smartphone. I waited not out of hostility but just because I didn't see much point when I have other AI apps, including ChatGPT, the source of most of Copilot's AI models. With Microsoft planning some big Copilot announcements at an event this week, I've been playing around with the AI assistant more, including the mobile app.

Honestly, I was more impressed than I expected to be. Copilot’s not perfect, of course. That said, the app does have some charm in how it looks and operates.

Imagine ChatGPT as a loft with exposed beams and unvarnished wood walls. In that analogy, Copilot has installed ceilings and lights that are easy on the eyes, illuminating pleasant paintings hung up on nicely painted walls. The room has the same purpose, but it's a different experience.

Here are some of the notable aspects of the Microsoft Copilot app worth highlighting.

One of the first things I checked was Copilot's voice capability. I was pleasantly surprised at how good the four voice options sound, and how human their cadence. They don’t sound like robots reading from a script. There are two voices that sound like men and two that sound like women, each with their own tone, but they all manage to sound like actual people.