Microsoft, the US-based tech giant, has been working diligently to integrate Bing Search with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Recently, the company unveiled an update to the Bing app for iOS devices, introducing new widgets that provide a shortcut to Bing Chat—a chatbot powered by GPT technology.
The latest update to the Bing app for iOS introduces two Home Screen widgets, enabling users to initiate a chat with a simple tap. Previously, these widgets were only available on Android.
In a blog post, Microsoft stated, “We’ve launched a new Bing Chat widget you can add to iOS. Once installed, you can initiate a chat from your Home screen. If you have an iOS device, instructions for how to add widgets to your Home screen can be found here (as previously announced this is already available on Android).”
Adding widgets to the iPhone home screen was first introduced by Apple with iOS 14 a few years ago.
To add the Bing Chat widget to your iPhone home screen, follow these simple steps:
- Press and hold a widget or an empty area on your Home Screen until the apps start to jiggle.
- Tap the “+” (Add) button located in the upper-left corner of the screen.
- Choose the widget you want to add and select its size.
- Tap “Add Widget” to add it to your home screen.
- Tap “Done” to complete the process.
Please note that while adding the widget will direct you to the relevant section of the app, interactive widgets were introduced with iOS 17 and require app developers to update their apps accordingly.
In addition to the widget update, Microsoft has also enhanced the performance of the voice input button on the Bing mobile app for iOS and Android. Now, once tapped, it should immediately indicate that it’s listening.
Stay tuned for further advancements and features as Microsoft continues to refine the Bing app experience for iOS and Android users.