Microsoft recently unveiled a new artificial intelligence (AI)–powered virtual assistant called Windows Copilot at its annual Build 2023 conference. Now, several months later, the company has initiated the release of this update to users of Windows 11. Microsoft made this announcement in a blog post in August, confirming that the Windows Copilot update is now being rolled out to PCs running Windows 11 version 22631.2129.
However, it’s important to note that, for the time being, Windows Copilot is exclusively accessible in preview mode through the Beta Channel. Consequently, its functionality is currently limited to Windows Insiders users.
In this article, we will discuss all the information you should know about Windows’ new Copilot.
What is Windows Copilot?
For those who may not be familiar, Windows Copilot serves as the centralized AI assistant available on Windows PCs. Unlike Microsoft’s former virtual assistant, Cortana, which had limited capabilities and is no longer active, Windows Copilot operates seamlessly across the entire platform.
In simple terms, Windows 11 users can use Windows Copilot to accomplish complex tasks, collaborate efficiently, and effortlessly switch between multiple applications. According to Microsoft, Windows Copilot will appear as a sidebar anchored to the right side of the screen, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with the user’s desktop content. It will run smoothly alongside open app windows, allowing users to easily engage with Windows Copilot whenever they need to.
To activate Windows Copilot, users can simply click the button located on the taskbar. Alternatively, they can initiate Windows Copilot by pressing the Windows + C keys simultaneously on their PCs. Once activated, the Windows Copilot sidebar will become accessible while using various apps, programs, and Windows. Microsoft has clarified that Windows Copilot will utilize the same Microsoft account (MSA) or Azure Active Directory (AAD) account that was used to sign in to Windows.
What Tasks Can You Perform Using Windows Copilot?
When it comes to features and capabilities, Windows Copilot goes beyond the basic copy-and-paste functions we typically perform manually. This AI assistant can also rewrite, summarize, or provide explanations for content. According to Microsoft, users can instruct the AI assistant to undertake a variety of tasks, including searching for flights and accommodations when planning a trip, taking screenshots, generating summaries on specific topics, and retrieving particular images, among other functions.
Where Can You Use Copilot?
You can utilize Copilot within your daily Microsoft apps, such as Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, and PowerPoint, with the primary aim of providing you with more time to concentrate on your essential tasks.
Outlook
The Copilot AI assistant enables you to quickly summarize emails or lengthy email threads, making it easier to respond promptly. You can also employ it to rephrase your emails and enhance their style.
Microsoft Teams
Copilot facilitates team collaboration and scheduling by organizing meetings, managing topics, and setting schedules. In essence, Copilot contributes to more efficient meetings and the structured organization of crucial discussion points in Teams.
Word
Copilot can duplicate documents, edit sentences, enhance writing style, and summarize the content of entire documents. This AI platform also enhances users’ writing by offering guidance on strengthening their arguments and rectifying grammatical errors.
PowerPoint
You have the option to employ natural language commands for making alterations to layouts and text formatting, making lengthy presentations more straightforward. Copilot is capable of transforming written documents into presentations that include speaker notes. It can also create presentations from simple prompts, word documents, or templates.
Excel
This integration simplifies the analysis of data, including numerical data in Excel spreadsheets. It allows you to ask questions about your data instead of depending on intricate formulas.
Can Microsoft 365 Copilot Analyze Data in Microsoft 365 Apps?
Copilot can also analyze data within Microsoft Apps and perform various actions. For instance, it can identify trends in specific data sets, conduct data analysis, generate new sheets and graphs based on the data, and even provide explanations of its processes and conclusions in Excel.
Some Other Personalized Feature Updates in Windows
Paint with AI-enhanced tools
Microsoft is introducing a significant update to the Paint application. The Paint app will now incorporate AI tools similar to those found in Photoshop. This enhancement will enable users to effortlessly remove backgrounds from images within the Paint app using a feature called ‘Layers.’ Additionally, Paint is introducing a Cocreator preview, which permits users to create images by providing text prompts as input. These two tools are poised to elevate Paint’s capabilities, positioning it as a formidable contender among the modern and sophisticated image editing applications available today.
Snipping tool updates
The Snipping Tool is receiving two new text-related features: text extraction and redaction. With text extraction, you can easily capture text from articles, ongoing video calls, and various other sources. On the other hand, the redaction feature allows you to edit text, making it possible to obscure sensitive information in a screenshot, for instance.
Microsoft Clipchamp
The most recent update to Windows 11 introduces Microsoft Clipchamp, a user-friendly video creation and editing tool. Clipchamp is a helpful video editing tool that allows you to input the project title, media, and category. In just a matter of seconds, it automatically generates an edited video that’s ready for sharing.
Clipchamp also offers recommended scenes, edits, and a narrative structure for your video based on the inputs you provide.
Easier Photo searching
The latest update simplifies the process of searching for photos on your PC and OneDrive. You can now search for images based on their content. For example, if you type “Vacation,” all related images will be displayed. Additionally, editing photos on Windows has become more straightforward. When you open an image in the Photos app, you can easily blur the background, resize the image, and make simple edits.
File Explorer gets AI features
Microsoft is enhancing the intelligence of File Explorer. It will now display AI-powered recommendations to assist users in effortlessly locating the most relevant files based on their usage patterns.
The latest Windows 11 update aims to make your app and game search more engaging. It introduces “Instant Games” – casual games that you can jump into without the need for downloads or installations.
Furthermore, this update includes various other enhancements, such as Natural languages in Narrator, effortless switching between your PC and Cloud PC, simplified Windows backup, and more.
Conclusion
The unveiling of Windows Copilot represents a significant leap in transforming the computing experience through AI. With its diverse range of features and capabilities, Windows Copilot promises to make tasks more accessible, efficient, and engaging for users across various Microsoft applications.
This AI-powered assistant not only simplifies everyday operations but also opens up new possibilities for productivity and creativity. As we embrace this innovative technology, we can look forward to a more intuitive and user-friendly computing environment that empowers us to achieve more with ease.
Windows Copilot marks a notable step forward in harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence to enhance our digital interactions and streamline our daily computing tasks.
