Xbox Insiders can now test new AI feature

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Important takeaways

  • Xbox Insiders can test the AI ​​chatbot Support Virtual Agent for faster answers to questions.
  • The chatbot, available on the Xbox Support website, offers users two animated assistants to choose from.
  • Limited to US users at the moment, it can connect players to human agents when it can't provide answers.



Xbox gives Insiders the chance to try out the Support Virtual Agent, an AI-powered chatbot that Microsoft hopes will provide faster responses to players' questions. The feature will eventually roll out to all users, but for now, anyone hoping to try it out can join the Insider program on their PC or Xbox console.

The Xbox Insiders program mimics Microsoft's Windows Insider by making features that are still in development available to test and review for anyone who signs up. Usually this means Xbox Insiders get early software updates, but the incoming Support Virtual Agent is noticeably larger. It brings the hugely popular trend of AI chatbots to the gaming world, at least on PC and Xbox.


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Xbox testing Useful new console feature

The developers at Xbox are testing a new console feature that will help improve gamers' experiences on the Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Xbox announced the Support Virtual Agent in a blog post on Nov. 4, though the reveal wasn't exactly a surprise. Rumors suggested that the Xbox was getting an AI chatbot back in April, but now that the official news is out there are more details on exactly how it works. Users can access the bot by going to the “Contact Us” page on the Xbox Support website, where Insiders will see the option to chat with the virtual agent next to the Disability Answer Desk. After clicking on it, the chatbot opens in a new window where users can ask questions either via text or voice.


Support Virtual Agent offers faster responses to common problems

The Support Virtual Agent pulls information from the Xbox support site, so it may not provide new tips, but it eliminates time users might otherwise spend searching for the right page. If the bot encounters something it can't answer, it can connect players to a human agent who might be able to help. Users can also choose between two animated assistants, which are hopefully less creepy than Microsoft's AI patent that imitates dead people. Whether insiders find the virtual agent useful or not, they can provide feedback using a link at the bottom of the chat window.


Not all Xbox Insiders get a chance to use the Support Virtual Agent yet. Currently, the feature is limited to users in the US with their preferred language set to English. Whether insiders outside the US will be allowed to use the chatbot before it becomes available to everyone is currently unclear. The same goes for the AI's full capabilities, as previous rumors said it would be able to process refunds, but the official release doesn't mention this feature. For now, fans will have to wait and see how it develops, and it could be a nice change of pace now that Windows has retired Cortana.

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