Tech Hot Shots News 2
🔍 Microsoft 365 Copilot: Enhanced AI Features
Microsoft has rolled out a major redesign of its Microsoft 365 Copilot app, introducing advanced AI-driven features aimed at boosting productivity. The revamped app now offers AI-powered search capabilities that integrate third-party platforms like Slack, Google Drive, and Jira, providing more comprehensive results. A new “Create” function, powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o model, enables users to generate multimedia content for Office documents. Additionally, the app introduces Notebooks—project-based tools that organize and contextualize data for specific tasks—and a Pages feature that facilitates collaborative document editing. These updates align with Microsoft’s vision of AI serving as both a personal assistant and a corporate productivity tool. ​
đź’Ľ HR Policy Shift: Performance Improvement Plans
In a significant change to its human resources policies, Microsoft has implemented a new global approach for handling underperforming employees. Affected employees are now offered a choice: enter a performance improvement plan (PIP) or accept a 16-week pay severance to voluntarily leave. This move mirrors Amazon’s “Pivot” program and reflects a broader trend in the tech sector toward stricter performance expectations. Earlier in 2025, Microsoft terminated 2,000 underperforming employees without severance and is reportedly considering further performance-based staff reductions.
đź“Š Power BI: April 2025 Feature Summary
Microsoft’s Power BI has introduced several new features in its April 2025 update. These include mobile-optimized report layouts, general availability of Power BI mobile apps, and the ability to edit semantic models with TMDL (Preview). Additionally, there are improved layouts for live editing semantic models, enhancing the user experience for data analysis and reporting.
🛡️ Security Initiatives and Updates
As part of its Secure Future Initiative, Microsoft released its April 2025 progress report, detailing advancements in cybersecurity measures. The company also addressed 134 security flaws, including an actively exploited zero-day vulnerability, in its April 2025 Patch Tuesday updates. These updates underscore Microsoft’s commitment to maintaining robust security across its platforms.