Also: How to use the new Bing (and how it’s different from ChatGPT) Confirming the beta release in a tweet posted on Wednesday, Pedram Rezaei, Microsoft Chief Technology Officer for the Mobile and Commerce Division, asked: “Did we just add major AI functionality to @SwiftKey?” and then followed up by saying: “Slowly rolling out. Get yourself onto the Beta channel to taste the future.” By selecting the new SwiftKey beta as the keyboard on your Android device, you can search for information via Bing, ask the AI to rewrite certain text, and chat with it to generate specific content. If you already have the current regular release of SwiftKey, you can keep that one, install the beta, and just switch back and forth. With ChatGPT and other AI tools quickly changing the tech landscape, Microsoft is one of many trying to get in on the action. The company has already added its Bing AI chat tool to its Edge browser for the desktop and its Bing app for iOS/iPadOS and Android. Integrating the Bing AI with its own custom keyboard seems like a natural next step. Also: ChatGPT vs. Bing Chat: Which AI chatbot should you use? The news may excite Android users, but what about iPhone and iPad owners? Several people responded to Rezaei’s tweet by asking about an iOS version of the SwiftKey beta. But so far, there’s been no response. The SwiftKey keyboard has had an on-again, off-again, on-again relationship with Apple’s OS. Following several years in the App Store, the iOS version of SwiftKey was due to get the heave-ho from Microsoft in September of 2022. But the company reconsidered in November, and the app has been available in the App Store since then.

How to try the SwiftKey beta

You can sign in with a Microsoft account or Google account or opt to use no account. You’re then taken to the SwiftKey Settings screen where you can review all the options and change any you wish. Otherwise, open an app that supports text input and tap any area that accepts text to display the keyboard. Tap the Bing icon on the toolbar above the keyboard and tap I agree to activate the AI.

The Bing integration offers three different features. 

Rewrite text

The AI will rewrite the text you add to try to improve or enhance it. 

Chat with the AI

Finally, you’re able to chat with the AI bot to ask questions and pose requests.