What happens when an app learns from doing? We call that artificial intelligence or machine learning. Aside from analytics and traditional search
engines that personalize the experience, several apps have begun to take on those characteristics. Microsoft, for one, has integrated Bing Image Search into its Office presentation app Sway, the
company announced Thursday. While the feature allows users to search for images and add them to their Sways without leaving the app, it also improves the app's machine learning and intelligence
features. In 2014, the industry began to see this intelligence in predictive analysis such as the technology behind Bing's Super Bowl or presidential election predictions. In 2015, we will see it in
apps.
In 2014, the industry began to see this intelligence in predictive analysts such as the technology behind Bing's Super Bowl or presidential election predictions. In 2015, we will see it
in apps. The applications will learn and adapt to real-time need and allocate resources based on demand, preferences, and patterns.
Some industry watchers wrote off Microsoft as an clumsy
dinosaur that was unable to quickly change direction. That perception will change in 2015 through functions like suggested search that expands features, so Sway can act not only as a digital design
assistant, but content-gathering assistant as well. Using machine learning, Sway will become an even more personalized content creation assistant: learning preferences and anticipating needs, per
Microsoft.
Suggested searches use natural language processing to continuously analyze the context and content, and show tags for related words or phrases creators might want to use. The Bing
Image Search integration searches for content and then allows the user to review applicable license terms. Sway launched in preview Oct. 1 as a way to pull in text, pictures and
videos regardless of the device. It allows users to search a variety of cloud--connected sources for content and multimedia without leaving the app. Drag and drop the content into Sway, which lets
users create presentations. Open the Add Content pane, Sway defaults to the feature called Suggested. From the first word added to Sway, Suggested searches uses natural language processing to begin
showing tags for related words and phrases the user might want to use, based on what was already written.
Tapping on a tag and then clicking on it performs a Bing Image Search based on the
words or phrases. Confiring the use is permitted, and the user can drag and drop the image into your Sway. Viewers
are able to click the image to see its attribution, which will appear as a URL in the lower right corner.
"Kids with
Smartphone in classroom" photo from Shutterstock.