Microsoft is now offering its AI assistant called Copilot for the Telegram messenger. The AI chatbot can answer questions and give tips or ideas within the messaging app, but also tell jokes. The Copilot for Telegram is still in beta status and can be used free of charge, but is somewhat limited. The bot cannot generate images using artificial intelligence and is limited to 30 requests per day within Telegram. At least the chatbot understands and speaks German.
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In doing so, Microsoft is following the example of other large companies that are integrating their AI assistants into messaging services. Meta has introduced a chatbot called Meta AI, which is being used practically everywhere: Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp – all platforms of the Meta Group. Google recently announced at its own Google I/O that the AI chatbot Gemini will be integrated into Google Messages.
Copilot also asks for personal data in Telegram
The Copilot for Telegram is an AI chatbot as you would expect. According to Microsoft It is a personal, generative AI assistant based on the GPT language models and the Bing search engine, which Microsoft has also given a copilot. Microsoft cites examples of how the chatbot can be used to search for information, plan trips, create fitness plans, or get updates on new films or music.
To use the Copilot for Telegram, simply search for ‘Copilot’ within the app. However, there are already bots with similar names. After selecting ‘@CopilotOfficialBot’, the bot asks you to confirm the terms of use and the privacy policy. Then the Copilot switches to English and asks for the phone number that is linked to Telegram. This seems strange, as Telegram sees itself as a secure WhatsApp alternative with more privacy.
Questionable reliability of the AI chatbot
Microsoft explains that the copilot answers based on reliable sources, but the AI can also make mistakes. Information from the internet that the copilot uses may be incorrect or unreliable. The chatbot then answered the first test question to the copilot for Telegram incorrectly. When asked about the last UEFA Europa League final, the AI described last year’s final between Rome and Seville. The final between Leverkusen and Bergamo last week was ignored.
Therefore, the warning placed by Microsoft at the end of the Copilot FAQ for Telegram should also be heeded with this chatbot: “Copilot sometimes misrepresents the information it finds, and you may receive answers that sound convincing but are incomplete, inaccurate, or inappropriate. Use your own judgment and verify the facts before making decisions or taking actions based on Copilot’s answers.”
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