Logitech has built an AI sidekick tool that it hopes will help you work smarter, not harder, with ChatGPT

In a move that shows how mainstream artificial intelligence (AI) is these days, Logitech has launched its free Logi AI Prompt Builder software tool that isn’t yet another AI chatbot, but instead designed to help Logitech users get the most out of an existing chatbot, ChatGPT

Logitech is also working on the hardware side of making AI-specific peripherals, launching a wireless mouse that’s equipped with an AI prompt button: the Logitech Signature AI Edition Mouse.

Who can access the Logi AI Prompt App and where

The Logi AI Prompt Builder can be accessed via the existing Logi Options+ app. This is freely available to anyone using a Logitech keyboard or mouse that’s supported by the English version of the Logi Options+ app, which includes Logitech MX, Ergo, Signature, and Studio Series devices.

Logitech has set up a site detailing the new AI tool, and you can click ‘Download Now’ to get the Logi Options+ app. Once you download and install this, you can designate a keyboard shortcut that you’d like to use to quickly open up the Logi AI Prompt Builder. Then, users can open it through the Logi Options + app or by using their keyboard shortcut, enabling them to receive recommendations about the text they've selected to converse with ChatGPT about.

A close up shot of Logitech's new AI-specific mouse, set on a table and the various parts labelled

(Image credit: Logitech)

Logi AI Prompt Builder will then offer you suggestions for commonly-used ChatGPT prompts, such as ‘Rephrase’ and ‘Summarise.’ You can also customize your queries within the tool, and ask it to make suggestions that take into account the sort of tone, style, complexity, and length of answer that you’d like. The latter of these is also offered by other generative AI tools like Microsoft’s own digital AI assistant, Windows Copilot. According to Logitech, this app will make for a smoother and less disruptive workflow, especially for those who make use of AI tools, thanks to you having to make fewer clicks and being able to work faster. You can check out how the tool works for yourself before downloading and installing it by watching a demo that Logitech has put on the Logi AI Prompt Builder site. 

I could see this having use beyond helping people work with ChatGPT, as other generative AI chatbots like Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet might also offer better responses thanks to Logitech’s suggestions. 

Logi AI Prompt Builder is now live and accessible for free for any user with a suitable Logitech device, and is available for both Windows and Mac users via the Logi Options+ app. The dedicated Logitech Signature AI Edition Mouse is currently available exclusively on the Logitech.com website for $ 49.99 in the US and £54.99 in the UK.

A man sitting at a table with a computer and the AI tool on his screen, in a room filled with modern decor

(Image credit: Logitech)

A vote of confidence for generative AI

This launch has piqued my interest greatly because it’s a pretty substantial move from a company that mostly specializes in PC peripherals, which suggests that it’s not just computer manufacturers that are making products that embrace our AI future. It’s also pretty indicative to me of companies like Logitech being convinced of generative AI’s staying power.

It’s one step closer to AI being a normal part of our work and everyday lives, and reminds me of Microsoft’s plans to add a Copilot button in the keyboards of new laptop models. I’m keen to try a tool like this for myself and see if my workflow becomes smoother, because if that’s the case, Logitech, Microsoft, and others could be on to something.

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Hate the widgets board in Windows 11? Microsoft hopes you might change your mind

Windows 11 is bringing the ability to banish the clutter from the widgets panel to all users, you’ll doubtless be pleased to hear – maybe opening up this part of the interface to being used by a lot more folks.

Previously, we heard about the option to remove the news feed and adverts from the widgets panel – so it purely plays host to widgets, and nothing else – was going to be part of a package of measures for Windows 11 users in the European Economic Area (EEA).

However, it seems this is a change rolling out to all Windows 11 users, as Microsoft advised in a blog post for the new preview build in the Beta channel (22635.2841), as part of some fresh introductions to settings for the widget board.

Microsoft tells us: “One of the new settings enables you to just show widgets on your widgets board,” adding that: “The new settings experience is not limited by region.”

Note that this is in the process of being rolled out, so not all testers in the Beta channel will have it yet. Of course, it’ll take further time to be pushed to the Release Preview channel, and then onto the finished version of Windows 11 (hopefully).

Other tweaks to widget settings include the ability to change the Microsoft account used to pipe through the news feed (if you want it), so you don’t have to be stuck with the account that’s signed into Windows 11.

There are also some tweaks for Copilot, including the AI now appearing in the Alt-Tab menu (for quickly switching between apps in Windows 11), and the ability to use Copilot across multiple screens.

For the full lowdown on all the bits and pieces Microsoft is working on with this preview version, check out the blog post.


Analysis: A hopeful sign?

It seems like Microsoft is listening to feedback, because while widgets can be a useful little extra for Windows 11, there are certainly users who have shied away from the widgets panel due to its pollution with news content pulled from MSN (and ads to make matters worse).

It’s interesting to see this happen just after the negative reaction to the changes being brought in for the EEA, and not other Windows 11 users, who would very much like these choices. So, maybe more of these options will be widely rolled out, after all. We remain unconvinced about that – as the motivation behind them is to comply with regulations in Europe – but who knows.

These are some very useful features, like being able to rid the Windows 11 search box of Bing (and its web results), or the choice to be able to uninstall Microsoft’s Edge browser. Time will tell, but the testing channels are worth watching closely going forward.

In terms of widgets themselves, another useful change rumored in the past is the ability to move them off their panel and pin them to the desktop.

Via Windows Central

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