Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot - Your everyday AI companion

This new app appeared on my Windows 11 laptop recently. I've done my best to ignore it up to now, but I just asked it a question that I thought would give it a severe test, and I was astounded that it managed to produce the answer below.  OK it has lots of inaccuracies and omissions, but I'm still somehow impressed and terrified in equal measures:

Q: "what year was the Plarail vista car 30000 released?"

A: "The Plarail Vista Car 30000 was introduced in the year 2009. This model, inspired by the Kintetsu Series 30000 Vista Car, marked a significant milestone in the Plarail history. Let’s take a nostalgic journey through the evolution of Plarail:

1. Early Days (1960s):

• The first Plarail toys featured trains that were manually moved by hand.
  
• A three-car configuration, which remains standard in Plarail sets today, allowed young enthusiasts to create their own rail adventures.
  

2. Transition to Real Trains (1970s):

• Plarail models shifted from generic trains to actual train replicas, including the iconic D51 freight car.
  
• Manual interchange and turn-out rails were also introduced during this period.
  

3. Thomas and Friends Era (1980s):
Products based on the immensely popular Thomas and Friends series joined the Plarail family, delighting fans worldwide.

4. Hyper Guardian and Commemorative Events (2000s):

• The Hyper Guardian series, focused on railroad security, expanded the Plarail universe.
  
• In celebration of the 50th anniversary, special events were held, and the C12 Steam Train Arch Bridge and Rail Set was released, combining nostalgia with modern technology.
  

5. Innovations and New Series (2010s):

• Plarail Advance: Compact enough to fit two trains on a single standard-size rail.
  
• Te-cology Plarail: Illuminates without batteries.
  
• Big Plarail: Features a built-in microphone for added fun.
  
• Chuggington Series: Introduced in 2012, featuring characters from the animated show.
  

So, the Plarail Vista Car 30000 holds a special place in the hearts of train enthusiasts, bridging the gap between imagination and reality! 🚂🌟

For those curious about the Kintetsu Series 30000 Vista Car, it’s a two-story vehicle operated by the Kinki Nippon Railway (Kintetsu), affectionately known as the “vista car” 2. If you’re feeling nostalgic, perhaps it’s time to set up your Plarail tracks and relive those childhood adventures! 🌈🎩👧👦 

Learn more

1. takaratomy.co.jp
   
2. worthpoint.com
   
3. ebay.com
   

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[Super]

What is this 'App' supposed to be? Like a FAQ site?

@Super, 

This isn't an FAQ site. Microsoft Copilot is an Artificial intelligence bot that can answer questions and (kind of) engage in conversations about a subject. It's very similar to popular ChatGPT (another AI bot).
These bots are often used by lazy students as they can write whole essays or do your homework (though as Dr. Chris said they can be inaccurate, as I have found out myself in the past). You can use this bot online with Bing.

People also use the AI bots to generate images, sometimes bizarre images like the one below.
Its honestly shocking how realistic these images can be.







This tech is pretty recent and even I as a youngster think it's insane that AI can do this and be so widely available.

nobody:
me: looking for mistakes
finds that Thomas was "made" by TOMY in 1980
me: (insert jumpscare meme)

I like that the AI also decided to spit a summary of Plarail history umprompted

[Super]

@Super, 

Thank you GG-Fan 😃