Microsoft wants AI to change your job – if it can work out the kinks

The tool is currently in use by hundreds of thousands software developers who rely on it to generate up to 40% of the code they write in about a dozen of the most popular languages. — Photo by Kevin Ku on Unsplash

The most hyped words in tech today may be “generative AI”. The term describes artificially intelligent technology that can generate art, or text or code, directed by prompts from a user.

The concept was made famous this year by Dall-E, a program capable of creating a fantastic range of artistic images on command. Now a new program from Microsoft Corp, GitHub Copilot, seeks to transform the technology from Internet sensation into something broadly useful.