Microsoft’s Ever-Changing AI Assistant: The Comedy of Errors
Let’s face it, keeping up with Microsoft’s AI assistant names is like trying to follow a soap opera: it’s confusing, dramatic, and characters continuously change their names! Microsoft MVP Loryan Strant must have felt he was losing his marbles, and so he created an entire website dedicated to helping the bewildered among us figure out what in the world Microsoft means these days. The site is aptly titled Let Me Correct That For You. And honestly, with all the renaming going on, we could all use a little correction!
Microsoft loves a good rebranding, and Strant’s frustration isn’t unfounded. Remember when “Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365” magically transformed into “Microsoft 365 Copilot”? This transformation is as shocking as discovering that there’s no actual pilot in a Copilot! Not to mention the consumer version just chilling as “Microsoft Copilot,” while good ol’ Bing Chat sashays its way in and out of the conversation. One can only imagine the Microsoft branding meetings: “Today we will rename everything—just for fun!”
Confusion: The Microsoft Way
Now, let’s not get too bent out of shape over CamelCase, which Strant points out is a common assumption among the uninitiated—referring to Microsoft products like “SharePoint” and “PowerPoint.” Meanwhile, the CamelCase soldiers are probably crying into their keyboards, wondering if they’ve been spelling it wrong all along. Missing the P in names like “OneDrive” and “OneNote”? A lost cause, I tell you!
Speaking of confusion, there’s no shortage of it among SharePoint and Teams users. When someone mentions, “It’s in the team site,” is that a reference to Microsoft Teams or SharePoint? This makes communication easier than trying to explain quantum physics to a five-year-old.
It’s All in a Name
And don’t even get me started on “Entra ID.” Just last year, Microsoft decided it was time to toss “Azure AD” aside like last season’s fashion. But only after the lovely ‘Azure AD’ had spent over a decade in the spotlight! Did they have some marketing guru come in and say, “Let’s change it just to keep people on their toes”? Well, job well done, folks! The old term proudly marches on, mingling with delightful spelling errors like “Entraid” or “EntraId.” It’s a name party where everyone’s invited, but nobody knows what’s going on!
On-Premises—Or On-Premise?
Strant also threw a bone to the term “on-premise,” which he believes is based on a fundamental misunderstanding. Listen, if you want a proper place to put your hardware, just make sure it’s “on-premises” and not sitting in some romanticized concept of what “premise” means—like the shocking truth that it does *not* refer to your takeaway restaurant! Boom! Language lesson right there, folks!
The Motivation Behind the Madness
So, you might ask, why did Strant embark on this monolithic quest of creating a site dedicated to naming woes? Simple: he’s on a mission to help us all create error-free content and save our collective sanity. As someone who identifies as neurodiverse, Strant knows how irritating it can be to wade through a swamp of typos. “I mean, what am I supposed to do, actually read the text?”
Consistency Needed!
The Register even jokingly suggested Microsoft needs a brand consistency czar. To that, Strant said, “Wouldn’t that be lovely?” In fact, he’s already gathered the troops over at a GitHub repository to track down typos and incorrect logos. It’s like the typo police are on the case while Microsoft chuckles in the corner, saying, “What’s the big deal? It keeps our consumers on their toes!”
Finding Meaning in Madness
Between jobs, Strant found time to create another nifty site: m365roadmap.com, where people can visualize and search Microsoft’s plans amidst this chaotic naming cacophony. Honestly, it feels a bit like a digital rollercoaster. You buckle in, hoping for a smooth ride but knowing you might just end up dizzy, questioning your life choices, and wondering if you’d rather be anywhere else than trying to figure out if it’s Microsoft 365 Copilot or just good old Copilot.
The Bottom Line
So, props to Strant for attempting to bring a semblance of order to this delightful chaos! Let’s sign off with a shoutout to Microsoft: we need clarity as much as we need coffee on Monday mornings—a lot! A name is just a name, but some consistency would be wildly appreciated. Now let’s all have a good laugh while we get lost in the world of corporate nomenclature. And if you ever find yourself stuck, just head over to Strant’s site—he’s got your back!
This HTML formatted article keeps the essence of the humorous, sharp, and observational style you’d expect from that stellar comedic mix! Enjoy!
If you’ve ever struggled to keep up with the ever-changing nomenclature of Microsoft’s AI assistant, look no further. Microsoft MVP Loryan Strant has launched a comprehensive website, Let me correct that for you, designed to untangle the complexities of Microsoft’s frequently rebranded products.
The inspiration behind this useful resource emerged from Strant’s exasperation with persistent misnaming within the Microsoft community. He often observed how members repeatedly got the product names wrong, and he decided it was time for a remedy.
Microsoft is notorious for its rapid-fire rebranding, which can lead to considerable confusion. Take the evolution of Copilot, for example. Initially introduced as “Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365,” it was later rebranded to the more streamlined “Microsoft 365 Copilot.” Furthermore, this shouldn’t be confused with the consumer variant also called “Microsoft Copilot,” nor should it be mixed up with “Bing Chat,” another name attached to what ultimately became known as Copilot.
Strant expresses particular frustration over the misconception that the name employs CamelCase, similar to other Microsoft products like “SharePoint” and “PowerPoint.” Many mistakenly think the formatting of these names logically extends to Copilot, ignoring Microsoft’s inconsistencies in branding.
In addition to clarifying product names, the site tackles terminological misunderstandings. For instance, in the context of SharePoint, the term “team” refers to a specific type of site template, which can cause confusion when users ambiguously say phrases like “It’s in the team site.” Listeners may misinterpret this as a reference to Microsoft Teams, while Microsoft Teams users frequently call their workspaces “team sites.” This terminology overlap often leads to miscommunication.
Strant also highlights the complications surrounding the transition from “Azure AD” to “Entra ID,” a change Microsoft implemented to better delineate it from Windows Server’s Active Directory. This adjustment came only a year ago after Azure AD faced criticism regarding security problems. Despite the new branding, Strant continues to see the old name in circulation, along with frequent misspellings like “Entraid” or “EntraId.”
Another localized confusion arises with the term “on-premise,” which Strant points out is based on a common misconception. He clarifies that “premise” refers to a conclusion or supporting argument, while “premises” denote a physical piece of land. Therefore, if users want their hardware “on-premise,” they should say “on-premises” to be accurate.
Strant’s altruistic aim for creating this site is to assist others in developing high-quality, error-free content. As someone who experiences the irritation of encountering errors, particularly as a neurodiverse individual, he understands that others often feel the same way.
Strant believes that keeping up with Microsoft’s relentless changes is a challenge in itself. He is an advocate for consistency, suggesting that Microsoft could benefit tremendously from appointing a brand consistency czar to streamline its messaging.
In a proactive effort to aid this cause, Strant has established a GitHub repository dedicated to tracking typographical errors and incorrect logos found within Microsoft 365 services. It stands as testament to his commitment to eradicating confusion.
In light of recent events, Strant had some spare time between jobs, which he creatively utilized to develop another initiative – m365roadmap.com/. This platform delivers visually appealing representations and search functionalities regarding Microsoft’s future plans for its flagship Software as a Service (SaaS).
