Abstract: An assisted content authoring productivity tool can provide a set of structured content related to at least one topic determined from a user's expression of intent. Additional information can be obtained about a selected result from the set of structured content through the assisted content authoring productivity tool by using the set of structured content as context for the further search. An item from the set of structured content can be inserted into a document in a content authoring surface of a content authoring application. The insertion may be carried out cross-device. Topics for the search of structured content can be determined using the user's expression of intent and, once available, the context can include the results of previous searches for the structured content related to at least one topic determined from the user's expression of intent. Each additional search results may provide further context in a recursive manner.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for facilitating contextual information lookup and navigation are presented. Contextually relevant information can be presented without requiring a user to switch context or craft a search query. From within an application in which a user may consume or create content, a user may indicate text for further exploration. The application can receive the indication of an initial text selection, determine the intended selection and provide contextual search results to the user. In some implementations, the initial selection and a selection context (that includes at least some of the text surrounding the initial selection) is sent to a contextual search service which provides the intended selection and contextual search results based on the initial selection and selection context. In other implementations, text may be suggested by the contextual search service for selection from within the application.

Abstract: An assisted content authoring productivity tool can provide a set of structured content related to at least one topic determined from a user's expression of intent. Additional information can be obtained about a selected result from the set of structured content through the assisted content authoring productivity tool by using the set of structured content as context for the further search. An item from the set of structured content can be inserted into a document in a content authoring surface of a content authoring application. The insertion may be carried out cross-device. Topics for the search of structured content can be determined using the user's expression of intent and, once available, the context can include the results of previous searches for the structured content related to at least one topic determined from the user's expression of intent. Each additional search results may provide further context in a recursive manner.

Abstract: Techniques that facilitate the accomplishment of tasks within applications are presented. An intent-based user experience is available through receiving a natural language statement of intent from a user regarding use of an application, such as a productivity application. The graphical user interface for the user can be configured and reconfigured based on the user's intent; thus creating a task-oriented user interface. The user's intent can be determined through classifying and/or mapping the natural language statement of intent to particular tasks, which can then be associated with one or more tools and information that can be used to accomplish the tasks. The one or more tools and information can be surfaced to the user in the graphical user interface.

Abstract: Techniques and systems for facilitating contextual information lookup and navigation are presented. Contextually relevant information can be presented without requiring a user to switch context or craft a search query. From within an application in which a user may consume or create content, a user may indicate text for further exploration. The application can receive the indication of an initial text selection, determine the intended selection and provide contextual search results to the user. In some implementations, the initial selection and a selection context (that includes at least some of the text surrounding the initial selection) is sent to a contextual search service which provides the intended selection and contextual search results based on the initial selection and selection context. In other implementations, text may be suggested by the contextual search service for selection from within the application.

Abstract: Techniques and systems are presented for providing “contextual insights,” or information that is tailored to the context of the content a user is consuming or authoring. Given a request for information about a topic, which may be indicated by a user gesture in an application, one or more queries to search services may be formulated without requiring entry of a search query directly by a user. Moreover, techniques and systems may leverage the context of the content the user is consuming or authoring, as well as user, device, and application metadata, to construct the queries and to organize and filter the results into relevant contextual insights.