Technology

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Giving a little extra personality to your Microsoft Teams chats could soon be a lot quicker, thanks to a new update that's in the works,

The video conferencing service has revealed users will soon be able to add emojis into chats in a much more straightforward method than before - "making it quicker to express yourself," Microsoft says.

The update will mean Microsoft Teams users can insert emojis directly from your keyboard "without any distractions", the company added.

Microsoft Teams "add emoji"

In a Microsoft 365 roadmap post, the company noted the addition will give users more personalization communication options within their chats, as it will include custom emoji created by the user.

The tool is still listed as being "in development", but has an expected rollout start date of April 2024, from when it will be available to Microsoft Teams users across the world on Windows desktop and web.

First announced in May 2024, custom emoji and reactions are familiar to those who have to use a variety of collaboration tools at work, as it has been part of Slack for many years.

Up to 5,000 custom emojis able to be added on Microsoft Teams, forming part of Microsoft Teams' ongoing push to boost customization and personalization options on the platform.

This includes the recent addition of the option for users to select their preferred skin tone for Microsoft Teams reactions.

First introduced in January 2021, Microsoft Teams reactions give users a quick and easy way to show their approval (or not) to chat messages and on calls, covering a range of emojis and symbols such as a thumbs up, frowning face or even a love heart.

Microsoft Teams has also launched virtual avatars, offering users more customization options while also livening up the look and feel of calls, alongside new visual effects including animated frames and video hue altering, on top of existing tools that allow users to blur backgrounds and soften the video feed to mask and obscure blemishes.

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• Most white-collar jobs could be affected by artificial intelligence
• Organizational and analytical tasks are more at-risk, IPPR report finds
• AI policies should focus more on AI adoption

New research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has revealed how profound the effects of AI are on knowledge workers, with more than two-thirds of tasks in white-collar roles at risk of being affected by artificial intelligence.

The report specifically details how generative AI is transforming jobs that rely on computer-based tasks, such as project management, marketing and administrative support.

It found up to 70% of the 22,000 analyzed tasks could be either “transformed” or “replaced” by AI.

White-collar jobs are at risk of AI transformation

“Organisational and strategic tasks” and “repetitive and non-repetitive cognitive and analytical tasks” were revealed to be among the most likely to see productivity and efficiency enhancements from AI, however now that AI is evolving from a novelty to a genuine aid, the IPPR is calling for better guidance.

The report’s author and IPPR’s Head of AI, Carsten Jung, said too many policies focus on either accelerating AI adoption or ensuring its safety, but very few actually set out a clear and purposeful direction for AI adoption.

“The launch of ‘AI agents’ shows AI is different from past technologies," Jung commented, "AI technology could have a seismic impact on economy and society: it will transform jobs, destroy old ones, create new ones, trigger the development of new products and services and allow us to do things we could not do before.”

IPPR is urging governments to set clear policies, establish measurable targets, partner with private sector and civil society to guide development and to ensure that AI advancements remain aligned with public interest.

Jung added: “Politics needs to catch up with the implications of powerful AI. Beyond just ensuring AI models are safe, we need to determine what goals we want to achieve.”

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