Xbox is bringing us a divisive new feature in future update

It seems Microsoft may be jumping on the AI bandwagon in a future update for Xbox consoles. AI is a bit of a sticky topic in the world at large and so Microsoft have acknowledged that any apprehension on the public’s part, but insists the new update will be beneficial to all.

While the company is looking into certain AI capabilities for their games, the big push is due to come in an AI “customer support solution” bringing an “embodied” virtual avatar who can deal with generic support issues customers may have, including the ability to work through software refunds, all from inside your Xbox.

Microsoft are constantly looking for ways to improve the Xbox console ecosystem

On the surface this doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Having a customer support bot within your console will certainly make things easier should a problem arise. This could very well be a 21st century version of Clippy the paperclip from the old days of Microsoft Word. Plus, being able to bypass waiting on the phone or in an online chat box could save us a lot of time.

One interesting option that Microsoft is reportedly working on is “in-game assistants to offer real-time help to players within games.“ As Sony offers help to their players through the PlayStation hub, this could mean that help is offered to players stuck in a game, perhaps lost and not knowing where to go next. Again, this is something that would help with accessibility for some customers, as long as it isn’t intrusive.

Still, there’s no getting around the fact that many users simply don’t want AI in their technology, at least front facing. We’re in a period where AI feels creepy and intrusive once again, as it did in the early 2000’s when it was seen as an evil entity. It’s likely this update will divide players, but if Microsoft can use AI applications for the good of its users, it may be a welcome addition in the long run.