With the latest Copilot features in Windows 11, you’ll soon be able to access a truly helpful AI assistant anytime—using your voice, keyboard, or mouse. And the best part? It’s not limited to just Copilot+ PCs.
For a couple of years, we’ve been hearing computer and part makers bandy the term “AI PC.” But until now, the moniker hardly seemed apt. Does a computer’s ability to craft a cartoon or sketch based on a prompt, to correct or rewrite some text, or to access a real AI tool (such as ChatGPT) really make it an AI PC? I think not. Apple and Google have added piecemeal AI features to their OSes as of late, but Microsoft is going all in on truly transforming Windows 11 with Copilot AI capabilities.
I find Copilot’s existing Actions, Click to Do, Recall, and Vision features impressive, and the latest round of enhancements and tweaks further establish the AI as an always-accessible assistant that’s aware of everything you do (if you allow it) and can (eventually) perform actions for you within any app. This represents a significant step toward making AI useful for everyday computing, and I’m excited to see how Microsoft is bringing the concept of an AI-powered PC to reality.Copilot in Windows 11 Is Progressing Rapidly
A few Copilot features, in particular, are driving the evolution of regular Windows 11 PCs into AI PCs. Copilot Vision, for example, helps you out with whatever app is on your screen via a voice chat. Updates will enable you to interact with it via text and trigger it (and Copilot Voice) with the ‘Hey Copilot’ wake word. Copilot Actions can perform tasks on your behalf in Microsoft Edge, and will soon be able to do the same within every app on your PC. Finally, Microsoft is introducing an always-available Copilot text box to the taskbar, which places the AI at the forefront of your workflows. Please note that some of the newest capabilities are initially available as previews through the Windows Insider Program, so you may need to wait to access them.
And Microsoft’s Copilot ambitions go beyond that. During a pre-briefing for the press, the company showcased a few additional impressive capabilities. For example, Copilot will be able to help you shop by comparing multiple browser tabs. And it can offer musical inspiration if you’re in a creative rut. Microsoft demoed that last example by asking Copilot to “Hum me a riff in G minor.” The AI obliged with a catchy bunch of notes in rhythm.
These are the types of features and usability improvements that I think stand a better chance of ushering in the era of true AI PCs than anything I’ve seen to date on other desktop OSes. And, as mentioned, they’re available for all Windows 11 PCs, not just Copilot+ PCs. If you are among the many PC users who don’t want to deal with new OS tools, however, you will be glad to know that they are all optional.
