Firelands Computer Services Blog

Language barriers have always limited what we can get out of online content.

Training videos, webinars, or product launches are only useful if you understand the language they’re in.

But that could soon change.

Microsoft is testing a new AI-powered audio translation feature in its Edge browser.

It can translate the spoken words in a video into another language in real time, swapping the original audio for a translated version.

Now, it’s limited to just a few languages. English, Spanish, and Korean. But it gives us a glimpse of how AI could make global content much more accessible.

Here’s how it works…

Once enabled in Edge’s settings, a small floating bar appears on supported sites (YouTube is one example).

When you start a video in another language, Edge automatically generates a translated audio track, muting the original.

The result is that you hear the video in your chosen language almost instantly.

There are some limitations right now though.

The feature requires a powerful computer. At least 12 GB of memory and a modern processor. It’s not going to run well on low-spec devices.

Accuracy can also vary, with occasional hiccups like extra voices or imperfect phrasing.

But given that this is still a preview, it’s impressive progress.

The potential here is huge.

International training materials, partner presentations, or even industry insights in other languages could become immediately useful without waiting for subtitles or professional translations.

It opens doors to faster learning, wider collaboration, and easier access to knowledge from around the world.

Real-time translation could help businesses think and work more globally than ever before.

If you’d like to learn more about the other productivity tools Microsoft offers, get in touch.

New: You decide what Copilot remembers

How much do you want AI to remember about you?

That’s the question Microsoft’s beginning to answer with a big new update to Copilot.

Up until now, Copilot has been useful for quick tasks. Summarizing text, drafting emails, or answering questions. But it doesn’t really hold onto much about you.

Every time you start fresh, it’s almost like meeting it for the first time. That limits how “personal” it can ever feel.

But now that’s changing.

Microsoft is adding memory management to Copilot. That means you’ll have more control over what it remembers.

You can explicitly tell it to “remember this”, and in upcoming updates you’ll get a full memory management page where you can see exactly what’s stored.

Then you can either edit or delete details whenever you like.

In other words, Copilot can build up useful context about you and your business, but you stay firmly in control of what it keeps and what it forgets.

Why does this matter?

Think about the time saved if Copilot could remember the way your team writes reports, the names of your key clients, or the formats you prefer for proposals.

Instead of re-explaining the same information repeatedly, you could just get on with the work.

And if something changes, say a client’s details or your preferred style, you can update or clear that memory instantly.

There’s another important piece to this update too: Connectors.

Copilot can already link to OneDrive. Soon it will be able to connect to Google Drive as well.

That means you’ll be able to ask Copilot to fetch documents, summarize a folder of files, or even surface insights from stored data without opening each file manually.

Over time, more services are expected to be added, giving businesses a much more joined-up way to work with their information.

These features are rolling out across the web, Windows 11, and mobile devices, with some likely to be free and others possibly reserved for Copilot’s paid tier in the future.

Copilot is moving towards being a smarter, more personal assistant that learns from you, while keeping you in the driver’s seat.

And that balance could be key.

The more Copilot remembers, the more useful it becomes. But the fact that you get to decide what it keeps means you can take advantage of that power without sacrificing control.

If you’d like to see what Copilot could do for your business, get in touch.

When you download a new app for work, how sure are you that it’s really the genuine thing?

A new wave of cyberattacks is making that question more important than ever.

Hackers are creating fake versions of popular apps. Things like WhatsApp, Chrome, and even secure messaging platforms such as Signal or Telegram.

On the surface these look exactly like the real deal. But hidden inside is malware designed to spy on you, steal data, or even give attackers control of your device.

The trick that makes this so dangerous is something called SEO poisoning.

In simple terms, attackers use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to push their fake websites to the very top of search results. So even if you’re usually careful online, you could still end up on a malicious site without realizing it.

From there, downloading what looks like a safe installer could also install hidden software that logs your keystrokes, monitors your clipboard, captures your screen, and even bypasses security tools.

The risks are obvious. One mistaken download by a staff member could expose sensitive company data, compromise client communications, or open the door to further attacks.

And because these fake apps sometimes also install the real version alongside the malicious one, people often have no idea anything is wrong until it’s too late.

So how can you stay safe?

The simplest step is to only ever download apps from official app stores or directly from a company’s website you’ve typed in yourself.

Encourage staff to double-check web addresses before clicking on download links. They should look for subtle misspellings or odd characters that give away a fake.

And make sure your security software is up to date so it can help spot threats if something slips through.

Most importantly, don’t forget that awareness is one of your strongest defenses.

Talk to your employees about scams like these and keep them updated on new threats. A quick reminder in a team meeting or an internal email could be enough to stop someone making an expensive mistake.

Fake apps aren’t going away any time soon. But by staying alert and building good security habits across your business, you can make sure your people, and your data, stay safe.

If you need help training your team, or checking your security is up to task, get in touch.

What if I told you that most of the cyberattacks happening right now aren’t being run by people at all, but by artificial intelligence?

That’s the reality of where we are today.

According to new research, 80% of ransomware attacks are now powered by AI. That’s four out of every five.

And it’s not just ransomware. AI is increasingly being used to:

• Create more convincing phishing emails (messages designed to trick you into clicking a link or handing over sensitive details)
• Crack passwords at lightning speed
• Bypass CAPTCHAs (those little puzzles you solve online to prove you’re human)
• Generate fake customer service calls using deepfakes (AI-generated audio or video that mimics a real person’s voice or face)

So why does this matter for SMBs?

The problem is speed and scale. Attackers using AI can try thousands of ways to break into a system in the time it would take a human to attempt just one.

And while a business needs to defend every possible entry point, an attacker only needs to succeed once.

That imbalance is what makes this such a big threat.

Traditional approaches to stopping malware, spotting it, removing it, and patching systems, are struggling to keep up. AI-driven attacks evolve faster than human teams can respond. That means businesses need to think differently about their defenses. It’s no longer enough to rely only on antivirus software or occasional updates.

The good news is that AI is also being used on the defensive side.

Security systems that monitor for suspicious behavior, predict likely attacks, and even set up traps for hackers are becoming more common.

But the real key is a layered approach. Strong security basics like patching and updates, combined with AI-powered defenses, human oversight, and clear governance.

The reality is that AI-powered cybercrime isn’t going away. In fact, it’s only expected to grow. But with the right mindset and proactive defenses, businesses don’t have to be easy targets. Acting now gives you the best chance of staying one step ahead of attackers who are relying on AI to do their dirty work.

If you need help checking your business is secure, get in touch.

Smoother, smarter dictation in Windows 11

When was the last time you found yourself typing something and thought, “There must be an easier way to do this”?

If you or your team ever use voice dictation to capture notes, write emails, or even draft reports, Windows 11 has some good news.

A new feature called Fluid Dictation is rolling out. It promises to make the whole process smoother, smarter, and importantly, less frustrating.

So what is Fluid Dictation?

At its core, it’s an upgrade to the existing voice dictation tool in Windows 11, powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

The big improvements are that it can now tidy up your words automatically. Think fewer “ums” and “likes” sneaking into the text. And fewer missing commas or awkward full stops.

The system will even polish up your grammar as you go, giving you a finished draft that looks a lot more professional right out of the gate.

And while it’s a nice convenience, it could have real benefits for businesses like yours.

Imagine staff being able to dictate meeting notes without spending ages editing them afterwards. Or field workers capturing job details on the go, hands-free, with the text coming out clean enough to send directly to a client.

Less manual fixing means more time saved. And that’s valuable for every business.

If you’re wondering about privacy, Microsoft has been clear. All of this happens on your device. Nothing is sent to the cloud, so your dictated content stays private. Plus, sensitive fields like password boxes have dictation turned off by default, which is reassuring.

There’s one important detail though. Fluid Dictation is only available on the latest Copilot+ PCs. These are Windows 11 machines designed to handle AI-powered features right on the device. So if you’re running a standard Windows 11 computer today, you won’t see it just yet.

Still, it’s a sign of what’s coming. Voice dictation that feels more natural, requires less clean-up, and helps people work faster is only going to become more common. And for SMBs, it could be another one of those quiet upgrades that makes everyday tasks just a little easier.

Are you curious to find out how Copilot+ PCs, or other AI tools could work for your business? My team and I would be happy to have a chat. Get in touch.