Microsoft Copilot for Gaming: A Perfect Match for Kinect

Artificial intelligence is still a hotly debated topic, but it’s undoubtedly here for the long haul. I find myself using it practically every day, not just because Microsoft is weaving AI into nearly every product it produces.

AI has undeniable benefits, and since the emergence of tools like ChatGPT and then Bing Chat, which evolved into Copilot, I’ve discovered intriguing ways to integrate this technology into my daily life.

The concept of having an Xbox Copilot, or as it’s formally called, Copilot for Gaming, is an exciting prospect on the surface, especially with Microsoft’s recent announcement. However, the caveat of needing your phone to interact with it dampens my enthusiasm. Frankly, the last thing I want while diving into a game is to keep reaching for my phone.

Does anyone remember the Kinect? That piece of Microsoft kit was ahead of its time, only to be shelved prematurely. Imagine pairing Kinect with Xbox Copilot; wouldn’t that have been the ideal setup?

### Voice Interaction: On-Device Convenience Over Phone Dependency

Let’s revisit the Kinect saga. Its second generation didn’t receive a warm welcome, but this specific technology sparked a whole new way of gaming with the Xbox 360. By the Xbox One era, it became your voice-activated sidekick.

I genuinely enjoyed bossing around my Xbox One, with Kinect responding aptly to my commands. What started as a cool trick to turn the console on and off quickly turned into an indispensable tool.

Navigating TV and media options while cradling my newborn was a breeze thanks to Kinect. Back when my Cable TV was connected to the Xbox through OneGuide—oh, those were the days.

Now, as AI evolves into a formidable tool and Microsoft is integrating it into every nook and cranny of technology, I can’t help but believe that incorporating a native Copilot on Xbox using Kinect would have been a game-changer.

Sure, using your phone’s voice feature is possible, but that’s just another gadget in a scenario where you already have a console, TV, and controller active. If you’re not a superhero with extra limbs, you’ll have to disengage from the game to activate Copilot.

A fellow writer, Samuel Tolbert, aptly captured this thought when he reflected on the new Xbox Copilot launch.

“No matter if I’m by myself or chatting with friends, I don’t want to yell at a screen (especially a second, smaller one) to get additional functionality or enjoyment out of what I’m playing.”

### Reflecting on Kinect: Making Sense Even Out of Time

While the Kinect is mostly obsolete now, the vision it offered still resonates. If AI were integrated into Xbox, creating seamless voice controls like those that could have been achieved with Kinect would be a logical step forward.

Considering we’re seeing AI infused into even basic apps like Notepad on Windows 11, it’s not far-fetched to anticipate Copilot arriving on the Xbox console sooner or later.

The dilemma is the lack of ready-made hardware. Kinect is no longer compatible with the latest consoles, even if you still own one.

Personally, I’d welcome interacting with Copilot through voice commands on the console. While in the middle of a game, I don’t want distractions. Surely, I’m not alone in this preference.

Stopping gameplay to engage an AI chatbot undermines its utility. Any future iteration must include voice interaction. Naturally, this implies a microphone associated with the console, but in the absence of Kinect, it remains the best alternative.

Voice functionality should be seamless too. You should be able to launch, communicate, and exit without halting your primary activity.

Will this become a reality? It’s hard to say. However, like many Microsoft innovations that never reached their potential, it leaves us pondering the classic “what if?”