iPhone, iPad, and Android users can now leverage AI while typing, writing, and chatting with Microsoft SwiftKey (a former Microsoft acquisition, which still seems to be paying off). In its latest version, the SwiftKey keyboard embeds the Bing AI chatbot, which is added to its range of tools. Using SwiftKey on your mobile device, you can therefore now not only search for information, but also request text rewrites and send your requests via chat.
This latest update follows a recent beta version of SwiftKey which previously only offered the AI feature to Android devices. Now the official app supports iOS/iPadOS as well as Android.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET.
Generative AI is therefore arriving very quickly in the daily lives of professionals. Microsoft has already added Bing AI to Microsoft Edge on desktop and mobile devices.
To fully utilize all of the new AI integration features in SwiftKey Keyboard, you will need a Microsoft account. If you don’t have one yet, go to the Microsoft accounts page. Scroll down the page and click the button Create an account. Follow the steps to set up your account.
Then download and install SwiftKey Keyboard for iOS/iPadOS or Android. The actual installation differs between operating systems.
With Android, press the button Enable SwiftKey on the home screen and turn on the Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard switch. Then press the button Select SwiftKey, then select Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard as the input method. Push the button Following to finish, then sign in with your Microsoft account.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET.
On an iPhone or iPad, press the button To start up. Sign in with your Microsoft account. Decide if you want to share what you type with Microsoft. In the SwiftKey app, tap the globe icon and change the keyboard to SwiftKey. If you want to allow Microsoft full access to SwiftKey, go to Settings > SwiftKey > Keyboards and enable the switch for full access. Otherwise, skip this step if you are concerned about your privacy.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET.
On an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, open an app that accepts text, such as Mail or Messages. Tap the Bing icon in the toolbar above the keyboard.
To search for information, tap the search icon in the Bing AI toolbar. Type or speak a word or term in the search field. Press the right arrow next to the search field to generate the results. You can then browse through each result and tap the one you want to view.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET.
To rewrite text, tap the tone icon in the Bing AI toolbar. Type or speak the text you want to have rewritten, then press the right arrow. In response, the AI rewrites your text in four different styles: professional, casual, polite, and social media. Go through the different answers and select Accept for the one you want to use.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET.
Finally, tap the chat icon in the Bing AI toolbar. In the welcome screen, select the style of conversation you prefer: “more creative” generates more original and imaginative answers, “more precise” more precise and brief answers. The “more balanced” style allows you to find a balance between the two. When in doubt, choose the balanced approach.
In the field ask me anything, type or speak your request. Hopefully, the AI will provide you with a helpful answer and perhaps suggest follow-up questions to ask.
Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET.
Source: ZDNet.com