Artificial intelligence (AI) and its close cousin, machine learning, are no longer futuristic concepts, because they’re quietly embedding themselves into our daily tasks.
AI tools are working behind the scenes to streamline our workflow, boost our productivity and open up opportunities for creativity.
Let’s have a look at some features below that are already included in some of the Microsoft 365 apps we are using within Glow.
Please Note #
Microsoft is continually evolving it’s AI capabilities, so it’s possible that new features have been added since this information was compiled.
Microsoft Learning Accelerators #
Microsoft Learning Accelerators are AI-powered tools for teachers, helping them unlock each student’s potential with foundational and future-ready skills. They’re seamlessly integrated into familiar tools like Teams, OneNote, and PowerPoint, making learning smoother for everyone.
Click the link below to find out more,
Microsoft Ignite #
AI for education: Resources and learning opportunities.
Explore resources and courses on how to use artificial intelligence (AI) for educational purposes with Microsoft.
Microsoft Word #
Microsoft Word has integrated several AI and machine learning features to enhance user experience and productivity. Here are some of the key ones:
Writing Assistant
- Ideas: This feature provides intelligent suggestions to improve writing style, clarity, and conciseness. It uses machine learning to analyse your text and offer recommendations. Cool things in Word for the web – Microsoft Support
- Rewrite Suggestions: Leveraging deep learning, this feature offers alternative ways to phrase sentences, providing options for different writing styles or tones. Updated Rewrite Suggestions in Microsoft Word – sentence-level writing suggestions – Microsoft Community Hub
- Grammar Checker: AI is used to improve grammar and spelling checks, offering more accurate and nuanced suggestions. Check grammar, spelling, and more in Word – Microsoft Support
Accessibility
- Dictation: AI-powered speech recognition allows users to dictate text directly into Word. Dictate your documents in Word for the web – Microsoft Support
- Read Aloud: This feature utilises text-to-speech technology to read documents aloud, with AI enhancing pronunciation and naturalness. Listen to your Word documents – Microsoft Support
Other Features
- Smart Lookup: AI is used to provide relevant information and definitions directly within the document. Get insights into what you’re working on with Smart Lookup available on Web
- Translator: AI-powered translation capabilities allow users to translate text within Word. Translate text into a different language – Microsoft Support
Microsoft PowerPoint #
Microsoft PowerPoint has integrated several AI and machine learning features to enhance user experience and productivity. Here are some of the key ones:
Design and Content Assistance
- Designer: This feature utilises AI to suggest design layouts, colour schemes, and even images based on the content of your slides. It analyses the text and images on your slide and provides visually appealing options. Create professional slide layouts with Designer – Microsoft Support
- SmartArt Recommendations: AI helps suggest appropriate SmartArt graphics based on the data you input, making it easier to visualise information effectively. Create a SmartArt graphic from scratch – Microsoft Support
- Presenter Coach: This AI-powered tool provides real-time feedback on your presentation delivery, offering suggestions on pacing, filler word reduction, and even cultural sensitivity. Rehearse your slide show with Speaker Coach – Microsoft Support
- Live Captions and Subtitles: Real-time AI-driven transcriptions can be generated for your presentation, making it accessible to those with hearing impairments or in multilingual audiences. Present with real-time, automatic captions or subtitles in PowerPoint – Microsoft Support
- Image Search: AI-powered image search within PowerPoint can help you find relevant images directly from the web to enhance your slides
These features significantly improve the overall presentation creation and delivery process, making it more efficient and impactful.
Microsoft OneDrive #
Microsoft OneDrive has integrated several AI and machine learning features to enhance user experience and productivity. Here’s one of the key features:
Key AI-Driven Feature
- File Suggestions: Based on your usage patterns and file types, OneDrive might suggest files that you might need or want to access. Experience the New OneDrive: Fast, Organized, and Personalized – Microsoft Community Hub
Microsoft Teams #
Microsoft Teams has integrated several AI and machine learning features to enhance collaboration, communication, and meeting experiences. Here are some of the key ones:
Meeting Enhancements
- Real-time noise suppression: AI effectively reduces background noise, improving audio quality. Echo cancellation: AI eliminates echoes during calls, providing clearer conversations How Microsoft Teams uses AI and machine learning to improve calls and meetings | Microsoft 365 Blog
- Live captions: Teams can detect what’s said in a meeting and present real-time captions. Use live captions in Microsoft Teams meetings – Microsoft Support
Communication and Collaboration
- Intelligent search: AI-powered search to find messages, files, and people within Teams. Welcome to Microsoft Search, intelligent search for the modern workplace – Microsoft Community Hub
- Suggested replies: AI offers potential responses to messages, improving efficiency. Use suggested replies to respond to messages without typing in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support
- Translation: AI-powered translation for messages and documents. Translate a message in Microsoft Teams also available in Web
Assignment Creation
- AI-Powered Instructions: This feature helps educators create clear, concise, and engaging assignment instructions by providing suggestions based on the assignment title, grade level, and other factors. Using AI to create Assignment Instructions in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support
- Classwork Module Creation: AI can assist in generating course outlines and drafting modules based on subject, grade level, and learning objectives. Manage classwork modules in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support
- Reading Passage Generation: For reading comprehension assignments, AI can generate personalised reading passages based on topic, age level, and difficulty. Reading Progress – AI Passage Generator – Glow Connect
- AI Grading Rubric Creation: This feature helps educators quickly create comprehensive rubrics for evaluating student work by suggesting criteria based on the assignment’s objectives. Getting started creating rubrics with AI – Microsoft Support
Additional Features
- Reading Progress: AI-powered insights into student reading performance can inform assignment creation and differentiation. Reading progress product guide – Microsoft Learn Educator Center | Microsoft Learn
Microsoft Forms #
Microsoft Forms has integrated several AI and machine learning features to enhance experience, productivity and data analysis. Here are some of the key ones:
Design Intelligence
- Question suggestions: Based on the topic or subject matter, Forms can suggest potential questions to include in your form.
Data Analysis
- Basic analytics: Forms provides basic data analysis tools to understand response patterns, which can be seen as a foundational step towards more sophisticated AI-driven insights. Gain more insights about your survey data – Microsoft Support
Did you know you can now embed Forms into your PowerPoint presentations using the Forms add-in?
User Feedback #
If you are using any of these tools and features via Glow in your local authority or establishment, the Glow team would be keen to hear from you.
Please reach out via Glow.Engagement@educationscotland.gov.scot to share your feedback, or set up a quick call with a Product Manager.
We would be delighted to hear from you!
