Oct 16 (Reuters) - Microsoft ( MSFT ) on Thursday rolled

out a series of artificial intelligence upgrades to Windows 11

that would make its Copilot AI assistant more appealing to users

by making it easier to automate tasks and connect with services

across devices.

Users can now use the wake word "Hey Copilot" to activate

the AI assistant and execute voice commands in a new opt-in

feature on any Windows 11 PC, Microsoft ( MSFT ) said.

The company is also expanding Copilot Vision - which can

analyze content on users' screens and answer related questions -

to all markets where Copilot is offered.

Microsoft ( MSFT ) said it would also launch a feature for Windows

Insiders that would allow users to engage with Vision through

text, and not just with voice.

The company has been racing to boost adoption and usage of

Copilot, to better compete with tech giants Google and

Meta that have pushed their own AI assistants through

features in devices, applications and browsers.

The Microsoft ( MSFT ) update also includes an experimental 'Copilot

Actions' mode that enables its AI assistant to perform

real-world tasks for users - such as booking restaurant

reservations or ordering groceries - from the desktop.

The tool expands on a similar capability first announced for

the web browser in May.

Microsoft ( MSFT ) said the agents will start with limited

permissions, and would only obtain access to resources that a

user explicitly provides.

The company also launched its 'Gaming Copilot' embedded Xbox

Ally consoles on Thursday, which allows players to engage with

the AI assistant for real-time tips, recommendations and

support.

"We think we're on the cusp of the next evolution, which is

where AI happens, not just in that chatbot, but gets naturally

integrated into the hundreds of millions of experiences that

people use every day," said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's ( MSFT ) consumer

chief marketing officer.