mayaskMicrosoft’s Copilot+ PC initiative has been a huge success, with many of these devices ranking among the best laptops, yet not for the AI hardware within. Now, at long last, Microsoft is putting the neural processing unit (NPU) inside Copilot+ PCs to excellent use. Starting today and continuing over the next two months, Microsoft will begin rolling out the 24H2 update for all Windows 11 PCs, and in the process, unlock several features for Copilot+ PCs, including the highly controversial Recall.
Recall is indeed the star of the show here, and it will start showing up on Copilot+ laptops with a Snapdragon X chipset throughout October. Last week, Microsoft laid the groundwork for the release of Recall, detailing the security architecture of the feature and addressing some of its major criticisms. For instance, Recall is now turned off by default rather than being enabled by default. Microsoft is also allowing users to filter websites and giving them more control over their snapshots, including the ability to delete them all.
Microsoft
Although Snapdragon X laptops are getting the feature first, Microsoft reiterated that Intel- and AMD-based Copilot+ PCs like the Asus Zenbook S 16 will also receive Recall (along with other Copilot+ features) starting in November. Microsoft previously announced the availability of Copilot+ for these PCs, though it still hasn’t provided a firm date for when the free Windows updates will begin rolling out.
Recommended Videos
New features in Paint and Photos
Microsoft
We will finally have all the essential features of Copilot+ PCs in one place, but Microsoft is already moving forward. Firstly, Microsoft is adding more features to its Photos and Paint apps. In Photos, you can now use AI-powered super resolution to enhance the resolution of low-quality images. This all happens on the NPU in a matter of seconds, similar to AI-powered upscaling apps like Upscayl, which is open source.
In Paint, Microsoft is adding generative fill and erase. This allows you to draw on an image to remove distracting objects or add new objects based on a prompt. This has been one of the biggest enhancements to Photoshop in recent months, and now it’s available through an app that comes with every Windows 11 installation.
AI-powered Windows search
Microsoft
These new apps are ready to go, but Microsoft has a couple of other Copilot+ features that it is still working on. For starters, there is an improved Windows search coming to Copilot+ PCs. Initially, it will only work in File Explorer, and it enables you to search for files by describing them rather than matching their file names. For example, you can search for photos with a particular subject – Microsoft used barbecue as an example – even if the file name doesn’t include those details.
Microsoft says it is expanding this AI-powered searching to the Settings app and the general Windows search “over the coming months.” With it, you will be able to search for settings and files by describing them. Microsoft provided the example of pairing your headphones. Instead of searching for Bluetooth settings, you will be able to search for “pair my headphones,” and the AI-powered search will bring up your Bluetooth settings.
Click to Do
Microsoft
Finally, Microsoft is introducing a new feature in a preview state called Click to Do. You can access it on Copilot+ PCs by holding the Windows key and clicking with your mouse anywhere on your screen. The NPU analyzes what’s on your screen and provides context-aware actions in a menu. For instance, if you click on an image, you will see an option to search Bing for the image or remove an object with Paint. And if you click on text, you will see options to summarize or open a word processor.
Microsoft says the actions in Click to Do expand even further, allowing you to send an email, open a website, search the internet, and more from the Click to Do menu. Given that this feature is in a preview stage, you shouldn’t expect a large number of options right away. Microsoft says it will be adding more actions over the next few months with a “clear focus on enhancing productivity.”
Recall is being rolled out to Copilot+ PCs now, but Microsoft says the additional Copilot+ features will be available to Windows Insiders first, starting in November. If you want to be among the first to try out these new features, make sure to read our guide on how to become a Windows Insider, as well as our roundup of the best Copilot+ laptops. In addition to the Copilot+ news, Microsoft announced several features coming to the Copilot app more broadly.
