Microsoft has announced that it will bring artificial intelligence to Windows 11 through an integrated experience called “Copilot.” Windows Copilot will be able to offer actions and contextual suggestions based on what is currently on the screen. The feature will be available in preview starting next month.
Announcing, Windows Copilot. Integrating the power of Bing Chat across all of Windows and all your apps. Windows Copilot creates a more personalized experience with relevant suggestions so you can take action quicker, complete tasks faster, and get more done.… pic.twitter.com/icy8VCFdiE
— Yusuf Mehdi (@yusuf_i_mehdi) May 23, 2023
Windows Copilot is a new approach from Microsoft similar to ChatGPT, the OpenAI chatbot that can chat about any topic using a large language model. However, Microsoft has a very different approach, integrating generative AI directly into its Edge web browser and Bing search engine. It’s even coming to the entire Office suite in the future.
Windows Copilot is everything Cortana couldn’t be
The new Windows Copilot can be accessed via a button on the taskbar, can be moved or docked to the right or left side of the screen when running, and features a chat box that runs the length of the screen. bottom to enter commands and ask questions.
“Windows is the first PC platform to offer centralized AI support for customers,” Panos Panay, Microsoft’s product manager, said in today’s announcement. “Together with Bing Chat and third-party and first-party plugins, you can focus on bringing your ideas to life, completing complex projects, and collaborating instead of wasting energy finding, launching, and working on multiple apps.”
Microsoft indicates that the new Copilot acts as your “personal assistant” for all things Windows, essentially replacing Cortana. You can ask it to set Windows options, open apps, scan text and images within apps, start the setup wizard, check for updates, and more. It is a tool to control many aspects of your computer, turning everyone into an advanced user.
As expected, Windows Copilot is based on the same AI technology that Microsoft has been using as part of Bing Chat., which means that you can ask Windows Copilot to search the web in addition to helping you with tasks that are done locally on your PC. It even supports Bing Chat and ChatGPT plugins, making Windows Copilot an extensible platform.
Windows Copilot will be available in preview as part of the Windows Insider Program throughout the month of June, which also means it will likely roll out to all users as part of Windows 11 23H2 in the fall.