Enlarge / A preview of the Microsoft Designer app's AI text-to-image functionality. (credit: Microsoft)

During a Surface press event today, Microsoft announced integrations of AI-powered image-generation technology into its Bing search engine, Edge browser, and a new Office app called Microsoft Designer. The technology will be powered by DALL-E 2 by OpenAI, which made waves in April for its ability to generate novel images based on written prompts. The technology has also been the subject of ire among some artists due to ethical concerns .

Microsoft's offerings aim to help creators overcome blank-page syndrome by suggesting creative courses of action. In an example of Microsoft Designer provided by Microsoft, someone types a description of what they want to see, such as "Ombre cake decorated with flowers and fall foliage," and they can then scroll through AI-generated image examples that they can choose to add to their design. "Designer invites you to start with an idea and let the AI do the heavy lifting," wrote Microsoft in a press release.

An animated GIF preview of the Microsoft Designer app's "Start From Scratch" feature, provided by Microsoft. (credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Designer originated as part of PowerPoint, where it currently suggests design ideas as a subset of that program. But Microsoft plans to break out Designer into its own Microsoft 365 app that will be available both as a free app and as a premium app available to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers. For now, Microsoft is limiting Designer to a free public web app, which it will use to gather feedback from public testing.

Enlarge / A preview of the Microsoft Designer app's AI text-to-image functionality. (credit: Microsoft)

During a Surface press event today, Microsoft announced integrations of AI-powered image-generation technology into its Bing search engine, Edge browser, and a new Office app called Microsoft Designer. The technology will be powered by DALL-E 2 by OpenAI, which made waves in April for its ability to generate novel images based on written prompts. The technology has also been the subject of ire among some artists due to ethical concerns .

Microsoft's offerings aim to help creators overcome blank-page syndrome by suggesting creative courses of action. In an example of Microsoft Designer provided by Microsoft, someone types a description of what they want to see, such as "Ombre cake decorated with flowers and fall foliage," and they can then scroll through AI-generated image examples that they can choose to add to their design. "Designer invites you to start with an idea and let the AI do the heavy lifting," wrote Microsoft in a press release.

An animated GIF preview of the Microsoft Designer app's "Start From Scratch" feature, provided by Microsoft. (credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Designer originated as part of PowerPoint, where it currently suggests design ideas as a subset of that program. But Microsoft plans to break out Designer into its own Microsoft 365 app that will be available both as a free app and as a premium app available to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers. For now, Microsoft is limiting Designer to a free public web app, which it will use to gather feedback from public testing.

Enlarge / A preview of the Microsoft Designer app's AI text-to-image functionality. (credit: Microsoft)

During a Surface press event today, Microsoft announced integrations of AI-powered image-generation technology into its Bing search engine, Edge browser, and a new Office app called Microsoft Designer. The technology will be powered by DALL-E 2 by OpenAI, which made waves in April for its ability to generate novel images based on written prompts. The technology has also been the subject of ire among some artists due to ethical concerns .

Microsoft's offerings aim to help creators overcome blank-page syndrome by suggesting creative courses of action. In an example of Microsoft Designer provided by Microsoft, someone types a description of what they want to see, such as "Ombre cake decorated with flowers and fall foliage," and they can then scroll through AI-generated image examples that they can choose to add to their design. "Designer invites you to start with an idea and let the AI do the heavy lifting," wrote Microsoft in a press release.

An animated GIF preview of the Microsoft Designer app's "Start From Scratch" feature, provided by Microsoft. (credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Designer originated as part of PowerPoint, where it currently suggests design ideas as a subset of that program. But Microsoft plans to break out Designer into its own Microsoft 365 app that will be available both as a free app and as a premium app available to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers. For now, Microsoft is limiting Designer to a free public web app, which it will use to gather feedback from public testing.

Enlarge / During actual use, there'd be some cables coming out of the Microsoft Audio Dock. (credit: Microsoft)

As part of its Surface event today, Microsoft announced the Audio Dock, a USB-C docking station that can serve as your computer's speakers and microphone, too. While the dock doesn't include Thunderbolt 4 or even USB4 , the compact device further attempts to earn a small space on people's desks with USB-C power delivery and a dedicated Microsoft Teams button.

Microsoft is calling the Audio Dock, which works with Windows and macOS, an "all-in-one speakerphone." It can connect to and charge PCs over USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) with up to 60 W. That should be enough to support some ultralight laptops, but you can find greater charging capabilities—even from a speaker dock. Logitech's Logi Dock offers 100 W over USB-C.

The Microsoft Audio Dock rounds out the port selection with two more USB-C (3.1 Gen 2) ports. Both support 7.5 W charging, but one of them also supports DisplayPort over Alt Mode.

Enlarge / During actual use, there'd be some cables coming out of the Microsoft Audio Dock. (credit: Microsoft)

As part of its Surface event today, Microsoft announced the Audio Dock, a USB-C docking station that can serve as your computer's speakers and microphone, too. While the dock doesn't include Thunderbolt 4 or even USB4 , the compact device further attempts to earn a small space on people's desks with USB-C power delivery and a dedicated Microsoft Teams button.

Microsoft is calling the Audio Dock, which works with Windows and macOS, an "all-in-one speakerphone." It can connect to and charge PCs over USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) with up to 60 W. That should be enough to support some ultralight laptops, but you can find greater charging capabilities—even from a speaker dock. Logitech's Logi Dock offers 100 W over USB-C.

The Microsoft Audio Dock rounds out the port selection with two more USB-C (3.1 Gen 2) ports. Both support 7.5 W charging, but one of them also supports DisplayPort over Alt Mode.

Enlarge / During actual use, there'd be some cables coming out of the Microsoft Audio Dock. (credit: Microsoft)

As part of its Surface event today, Microsoft announced the Audio Dock, a USB-C docking station that can serve as your computer's speakers and microphone, too. While the dock doesn't include Thunderbolt 4 or even USB4 , the compact device further attempts to earn a small space on people's desks with USB-C power delivery and a dedicated Microsoft Teams button.

Microsoft is calling the Audio Dock, which works with Windows and macOS, an "all-in-one speakerphone." It can connect to and charge PCs over USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) with up to 60 W. That should be enough to support some ultralight laptops, but you can find greater charging capabilities—even from a speaker dock. Logitech's Logi Dock offers 100 W over USB-C.

The Microsoft Audio Dock rounds out the port selection with two more USB-C (3.1 Gen 2) ports. Both support 7.5 W charging, but one of them also supports DisplayPort over Alt Mode.

Enlarge / The Surface Studio 2+ is the desktop's first update in four years. (credit: Microsoft)

For the first time in four years, Microsoft has updated the only desktop in its Surface PC lineup. The Surface Studio 2+ improves on the Surface Studio 2 by modernizing the internals and updating its port selection while leaving the rest of the machine—particularly its large touchscreen and foldable hinge—alone.

But this all-in-one still isn't for everyone. A Surface Studio 2+ with a Surface Pen and keyboard and mouse will run you a whopping $4,500, while a "cheap" version with the same specs but without those external accessories costs $4,300 instead. And despite a big jump in specs, we still have serious questions about the components Microsoft has chosen for an expensive all-in-one that's aimed at creative professionals.

The Surface Studio 2+ will be available in the US starting on October 25.

Enlarge / The Surface Studio 2+ is the desktop's first update in four years. (credit: Microsoft)

For the first time in four years, Microsoft has updated the only desktop in its Surface PC lineup. The Surface Studio 2+ improves on the Surface Studio 2 by modernizing the internals and updating its port selection while leaving the rest of the machine—particularly its large touchscreen and foldable hinge—alone.

But this all-in-one still isn't for everyone. A Surface Studio 2+ with a Surface Pen and keyboard and mouse will run you a whopping $4,500, while a "cheap" version with the same specs but without those external accessories costs $4,300 instead. And despite a big jump in specs, we still have serious questions about the components Microsoft has chosen for an expensive all-in-one that's aimed at creative professionals.

The Surface Studio 2+ will be available in the US starting on October 25.

Enlarge / The Surface Studio 2+ is the desktop's first update in four years. (credit: Microsoft)

For the first time in four years, Microsoft has updated the only desktop in its Surface PC lineup. The Surface Studio 2+ improves on the Surface Studio 2 by modernizing the internals and updating its port selection while leaving the rest of the machine—particularly its large touchscreen and foldable hinge—alone.

But this all-in-one still isn't for everyone. A Surface Studio 2+ with a Surface Pen and keyboard and mouse will run you a whopping $4,500, while a "cheap" version with the same specs but without those external accessories costs $4,300 instead. And despite a big jump in specs, we still have serious questions about the components Microsoft has chosen for an expensive all-in-one that's aimed at creative professionals.

The Surface Studio 2+ will be available in the US starting on October 25.