Microsoft is significantly upgrading Windows 11 by deepening the integration of its AI assistant, Copilot, with various new features and improvements aimed at enhancing user productivity and privacy. The new enhancements include voice activation and an array of AI-driven functionalities across the operating system.
New AI Features Introduced
The enhanced Copilot now supports voice activation with the command "Hey Copilot," alongside keyboard shortcuts such as the dedicated Copilot key or Windows+C. Copilot Vision, a newly expanded feature, can interpret content from screens or app windows to assist users, for example, by guiding them through Excel operations or suggesting photo edits. Additionally, a beta version of Gaming Copilot offers in-game walkthroughs and tips.
Integration and Privacy Measures
Microsoft is also transforming the Start/Search field into an Ask Copilot interface and introducing Copilot Actions to interact with local files for tasks such as photo sorting and PDF data extraction. Through Copilot Connectors, the assistant can access services like Gmail and Dropbox. New export features allow users to save Copilot interactions in Word, PDF, Excel, or PowerPoint formats.
The company paid attention to privacy and security, implementing measures such as AI agents running under dedicated accounts, mandatory code signing, least-privilege access, and activity logging. Copilot Actions are disabled by default to ensure privacy protection, a lesson learned from the problematic Windows Recall launch, which led to personal data exposure.
Testing and Availability
Microsoft plans to use Windows Insider channels to test these new features before a broader rollout. The exact timeline for general availability remains uncertain, but these features are intended for all Windows 11 PCs, not just those with Copilot+ hardware.
