At a time when many are discussing their vision for AI, Microsoft is pleased to announce continued AI innovations coming to Copilot+ PCs and Windows 11.
We are introducing new experiences for the Windows 11 PC that streamline daily tasks and empower users with new capabilities to tackle complex challenges. These new features will make getting things done on your PC faster, simpler, and more personalized.
In this era of AI, we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible and navigate in an era of unprecedented technological transformation. Today, it’s clear that innovation isn’t just about creating new products; it’s about enabling us to reimagine how we solve everyday problems. Now, you can quickly and easily find what you’re looking for using your own words, and applications will reveal themselves where and when you need them, keeping you in your flow. Our goal with AI-enabled innovation at the Windows 11 endpoint is to empower our customers and achieve better output in everything you do, all without complicating the process, making everyday tasks more accessible and efficient.
But we aren’t just talking about AI innovation or showing what may come in the future. In May, we announced the Copilot+ PC, a new class of PCs that introduced AI-enabled experiences to Windows customers. Starting this holiday, our Copilot+ PC and Windows 11 customers will have access to even more new features designed to make your PC more innovative, practical, and secure.
Transforming the PC Experience with new and useful features
The market response to Copilot+ PCs – engineered from the inside out for AI as the fastest, most intelligent, and most secure Windows PCs ever built – has been extraordinary. With industry accolades deeming these PCs a “must buy” and many retailers seeing increased customer demand, we are excited to build on our momentum by introducing even more AI-enabled “superpowers” made possible by our integrated 40+ TOPS NPU. These new Copilot+ PC experiences will arrive on Windows 11 PCs from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and Microsoft Surface, showcasing silicon from Qualcomm, Intel and AMD. Starting at just $699, these Copilot+ PCs redefine what you can expect from your next computer.
New features will be available to our Windows Insider community starting in October, and they will be phased out to select devices and markets beginning November 1.
Recall (Preview):
Recall is an entirely new way to find something you’ve previously seen on your PC instantly. Following the announcement in May, we listened to our community emphasizing the need for additional default security layers. We have taken the time to make Recall even more secure by default, ensuring our customers feel confident that their data is safe and secure right from the start. Customers will now have the choice to opt in to save snapshots, and if they do opt-in, they will use Windows Hello to confirm their presence and securely unlock the Recall experience. With the sensitive information filter, Recall will apply filters over sensitive information when highly confidential data like credit card details or personal identification numbers needs to stay just that – confidential. Learn more about the security and privacy integrated into Recall here.
Starting in October, Windows Insiders will begin to see Recall on Arm for our Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs. Customers who purchase an Intel—or AMD-powered Copilot+ PC will see Recall initially in our Windows Insider program starting in November. Timing details on the broad availability of Recall will be shared soon.
Click to Do (Preview):
Click to Do is designed to help simplify your workflow by magically placing an interactive overlay on top of your PC screen, enabling suggested quick actions to appear over images or text. At your request, Click to Do seamlessly connects you to tools and actions to accomplish tasks, like suggesting help with Visual Search with Bing, background blur or erasing objects in Photos, removing backgrounds with Paint, and more. It also assists with text-related actions such as rewriting, summarising or explaining the text in a line, opening in a text editor, sending an email (with a recognized email address), web searches, and opening websites (with a recognized URL). Click to Do is context-aware and accessible from any Copilot+ PC screen – press the Windows key and click your mouse to find Click to Do in the Snipping Tool or Print Screen to get started. With a clear focus on enhancing productivity, customers will see additional rich actions added in the coming months.
Improved Windows Search:
Finding the correct files, including documents, settings, or photos, on Copilot+ PCs became easier. Using your own words, like “BBQ party”, you can now describe things to find what you’re looking for on Windows. You no longer need to remember file names and settings locations or worry about spelling –type what’s in your mind to find it on a Copilot+ PC. You can even find photos in OneDrive by describing the content similarly. And, thanks to the power of the 40+ TOPS NPU onboard Copilot+ PCs, it works even when you’re not connected to the internet. Improved search will be available first with File Explorer and expanding to Windows Search and Settings in the coming months.
Super-resolution in Photos:
Reimagine and enhance your lower-resolution and older photos into high-quality images without worrying they’ll look blurry or pixelated. After increasing its size, you no longer have to deal with a distorted, pixelated photo. Using powerful on-device AI, super-resolution Photos will transform your old or lower-quality images into reimagined memories. Use the slider to increase the resolution by up to 8X and precisely control and adjust the output. And this work won’t take all night. With the power of the 40+ TOPS NPU, super-resolution photos can upscale an image up to 4K within seconds for free.
Generative Fill and Erase in Paint:
Paint is your creative companion, making bringing your visions to life effortless. Using AI tools announced in May, creators use their own words to describe their vision in a prompt or a few swipes of the brush to create incredible images for free without needing a subscription.
Now, with generative fill and generative erase, you can edit and alter images with greater precision and creative freedom. Using an adjustable brush, you can remove unwanted or distracting elements in your image or add new ones exactly where you want them. We’ve also improved the underlying diffusion-based model to deliver better results faster, and with built-in moderation, it’s a creative experience you can trust.
Even more new Copilot+ PC Arm-enabled applications from top Developers: We continue expanding the list of native apps and emulated experiences available for Arm-based Copilot+ PCs. With new apps landing daily, we’re excited to see developers leaning into the power of the industry-leading NPU, offering unique experiences and performance across categories such as Productivity, Entertainment, VPN, and Security.
Many of the most popular applications are already available for Windows on Arm. You can enjoy brands such as Chrome, Zoom, Brave, Opera, Slack, Spotify, Adobe (InDesign, Illustrator and Premiere), Davinci Resolve, Algoriddim djayPro, Libre Office, 1Password, and Todoist today, with new native apps on the horizon including Vegas Pro, Fantastical, Sketchbook Pro, Arc Browser, Google Drive, and more.
We also see strong momentum in the VPN and printer space. Popular apps like ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, Surfshark, and Windscribe are available now, with NordVPN coming soon. And, with over 90% of printers purchased in the last seven years working seamlessly, our Copilot+ PC customers have access to the apps and performance they expect on their Windows PC.
Windows 11 2024 update begins rolling out.
Starting today, the Windows 11 24H2 update begins to roll out to Windows 11 customers. This update includes new features like Energy Saver, designed to extend battery life and reduce energy use, even when your device is plugged in. We are thrilled to announce improved Hearing Aid support with Bluetooth LE Audio, with new capabilities to control audio presets, ambient sounds, and experience enhancements. We are also introducing Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, offering unprecedented connectivity speed, reliability, and efficiency. Windows 11 24H2 also offers HDR background support. We have also significantly improved the taskbar and system tray, File Explorer, and Settings to make it easier and more intuitive to do what you want on your Windows PC. Learn more about how these features will roll out to customers here. Our commercial customers can learn more about the IT tools related to this update here.
Looking ahead
At Microsoft, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this journey, driving momentum with innovation at the Windows 11 endpoint on Copilot+ PCs. These advancements enhance the experience and empower our customers to bring their ideas to life with secure, cutting-edge Windows 11 solutions.
As the way we interact with technology continues to evolve, we are committed to ensuring that our innovations are not only cutting-edge but also secure and privacy-focused. We understand that protecting our users’ data is paramount in today’s digital age. That’s why we have integrated advanced security safeguards and privacy measures into our products, ensuring that AI is beneficial and secure in everyday life. Our Copilot+ PCs are equipped with intelligent features that enhance productivity while maintaining the highest levels of security. Whether working on sensitive documents, communicating with colleagues, or managing personal information, you can trust that your data is safe.
Join us this holiday with Copilot+ PCs as we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of what’s possible on Windows.
Please visit aka.ms/copilotpluspcs for more details on the rollout as it becomes available.
Written by: Pavan Davuluri, Corporate Vice President, Windows + Devices
