Intro to AI in Microsoft Power Platform - Part 1

Over the past year, discussions about AI and its transformative effect on various sectors through technologies like chatGPT have been ubiquitous. Microsoft 365 has keenly participated in this era of innovation by integrating AI assistants, such as copilot, across its product suite at an impressive rate. These advancements in AI have the potential to alter how jobs are performed and the nature of many employment roles.

However, not all AI enhancements appear equally valuable; some seem to carry the 'AI' label for the sake of trendiness rather than functional improvement. A telling case is the implementation of AI within Microsoft's Power Apps, leaving the decision to users on its value. The platform's AI features, particularly its first AI-based assistant in Canvas Power Apps, offer suggestions for formulae that users can implement, catering to those unfamiliar with PowerFx.

For instance, the assistant can swiftly generate a formula that displays the first three letters of an account name in uppercase. Although handy, there are times when the AI proposes solutions that are overly complex, impacting performance and readability. In several tests, the AI-generated formulas worked, but their complexity raised concerns about their practicality for real-world application.

At present, AI suggestions within Power Platform are limited to single-table formats, unable to format information from what's behind a LookUp field. Generating Power Fx from natural language as suggested by Developer Tools remains unseen in practice. Additionally, Power Apps have introduced a Copilot in preview that assists with small tasks, like adding empty forms, but struggles with more complex requests such as adding fields or operational logic.

Furthermore, Power Apps can be created from scratch with Natural Language prompts, an impressive feature limited to single-table applications. And while Copilot can help make stylistic changes to control properties, it struggles with function-related amendments, indicating the current limitations of AI-assisted development on the platform.

AI capabilities are also evident in AI Builder, offering various ready-made models that enhance application development. The Internet offers plenty of instances of how chatGPT can be integrated into Power Apps, while AI's utility in application development extends to control cops - a feature that's yet to be widely tested.

The emerging AI features of Power Platform indeed offer value, particularly to novices building their first apps. Seasoned developers might not find the current tools as advantageous. Nonetheless, there's potential for the tools, like Power Apps' copilot, to evolve significantly, possibly becoming a staple in daily development in the near future.

• AI is transforming how jobs are done, with Power Platform AI's value being debatable.
• Power Platform's Canvas Power Apps AI assistant can generate complex, performance-hindering formulas.
• Power Platform's AI capabilities are currently limited and fail to handle complex tasks efficiently.
• Despite these limitations, AI features in Power Platform show potential and can aid beginners in app development.
• The expectations for future improvements are high, anticipating AI to become a more integral part of development.

Elaborating on Power Platform and AI

The use of AI within Microsoft's Power Platform signifies both advancement and potential in simplifying app development, especially for those just entering the field. While the current AI features may not fully meet the demands of experienced developers, they provide a glimpse into a future where AI could significantly enhance productivity and creativity in app creation. As Microsoft continues to refine these tools, one can anticipate more streamlined, intelligent, and user-friendly experiences for developers across the board.