It took a few years, nevertheless it occurred: Microsoft launched its Copilot AI assistant as an utility for macOS. The app is out there for obtain at no cost from the Mac App Retailer proper now.

It was beforehand accessible briefly as a Mac app, type of; for a short while, Microsoft’s iPad Copilot app might run on the Mac, however entry on the Mac was rapidly disabled. Mac customers have been ready to make use of a web-based interface for some time.

Copilot initially launched on the net and in net browsers (Edge, clearly) earlier than making its method onto iOS and Android final 12 months. It has since been slotted into all types of first-party Microsoft software program, too.

The Copilot app joins a development already spearheaded by ChatGPT and Anthropic of bringing native apps to the macOS platform. Like these, it permits an OS-wide keyboard shortcut to invoke a discipline for beginning a chat at any time. It provides many of the similar use circumstances: translating or summarizing textual content, answering questions, getting ready studies and paperwork, fixing coding issues or producing scripts, brainstorming, and so forth.

Copilot makes use of OpenAI fashions like GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 (sure, it generates pictures, too) alongside others like Microsoft’s in-house Prometheus. Microsoft has invested vital quantities of cash into OpenAI lately as the idea for Copilot and principally every part in its AI technique.

Like Apple’s personal built-in generative AI options, Copilot for macOS requires an M1 or later Mac. It additionally requires customers to run macOS 14 or later.