Microsoft Could Be Launching AI-Powered Smart Backpacks: Here Are Some Use Cases

Technology giant Microsoft Corporation MSFT is among the companies making big bets on the growth of artificial intelligence (AI). The Redmond, Washington-based company invested $10 billion in ChatGPT parent OpenAI in January, adding to its existing stake in the growing company.

A new patent reveals Microsoft’s next AI-enabled product could be a smart backpack that includes a camera and microphone, as well as storage and a processor.

What Happened: Microsoft has integrated AI into many of its products, including its Bing search engine.

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The technology giant might be ready to launch new products for consumers that utilize artificial intelligence, a move that could capture the growing uses cases of the technology.

A new patent filing from Microsoft reveals the company could be working on a smart backpack that uses artificial intelligence. According to a report from MSPowerUser, the backpack can hear you and see what you see thanks to AI.

Filed in May 2023, the patent calls for the backpack to be able to identify objects in the wearer’s environment, perform tasks, get information from the cloud and interact with other smart devices.

“Digital assistants are becoming more versatile due to advancements in computing. The present concepts relate to improvements in wearable digital assistants that can perform various tasks for the benefit of users,” Microsoft said.

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Why It’s Important: The patent highlights some specific use cases of having an AI enabled backpack. Pictures show the backpack being used at a ski resort and telling a skier where they can go, standing in front of a concert poster and telling your backpack to add the date to your calendar and being at a grocery store and asking for price comparisons on items across other stores.

“The wearable may be context-aware such that a user can provide contextual commands that relate to the environment in which the user is situated and the wearable can understand the contextual command by sensing the environment and using artificial intelligence,” Microsoft said.

Questions remain on the adaptability of a backpack being worn frequently enough by consumers. Unlike a phone or smart glasses that might not interfere with everyday tasks, a backpack could add weight, be restricted from entering certain events (concerts, grocery stores), and hinder a consumer.

Intel Corp INTC and Targus have also launched smart backpacks.

A patent filing doesn't mean the product will become a reality, but the rise of interest in artificial intelligence could make this backpack filing an interesting one for investors to follow. 

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