Tom Warren

Microsoft started previewing its MAI-Voice-1 model late last month, and now it’s updating its Copilot Audio Expressions feature with a new scripted mode that uses Microsoft’s in-house AI models. It reads your text input in a variety of styles, including a vampire style that you can sink your teeth into just in time for Halloween.

Microsoft has fired a fifth employee over the latest Palestine protests at the company’s headquarters. No Azure for Apartheid doesn’t name the Microsoft employee, but says they took part in the demonstrations that saw protesters set up encampments at Microsoft’s headquarters. Microsoft has also fired employees who occupied its president’s office, protesting against the company’s contracts with the Israeli government.