In the latest developments from the Windows 11 Insider Canary Channel, build 27695 has unveiled intriguing references to a forthcoming feature dubbed “intelligent media search.” This innovative function promises to enhance user experience by making spoken words within local audio files and videos searchable, leveraging a local AI model. The concept bears a resemblance to Recall, a feature that has stirred controversy and is set to make its return to Windows Insider builds in October.
Exploring Intelligent Media Search
Intelligent media search is envisioned as a powerful tool that transcribes audio and video content stored on a Windows PC, enabling users to search for spoken words seamlessly. Imagine the convenience of extracting information from a recorded meeting or effortlessly locating your place in an audiobook. Although this feature is not yet available in any current builds, its references suggest that Microsoft is gearing up for its introduction.
The initial discovery of this feature was made by @XenoPanther on X (formerly Twitter), who highlighted its potential capabilities. According to the detailed description, users will be able to “search by spoken words in your indexed video or audio files.” Upon agreeing to the terms, users will consent to the scanning of their media files. If necessary, the required AI model will be downloaded and installed in the background. Once set up, the model will transcribe and index the media files, paving the way for content-based search functionality. Users will be notified once this process is complete.
Despite the excitement surrounding intelligent media search, Microsoft has yet to publicly comment on the feature. Its functionality appears closely linked to Recall, a feature that faced postponement due to significant privacy concerns. Recall aims to log images of user activity at regular intervals, allowing for easy searchability of everything displayed on the computer. While Recall is expected to return to Insider builds in October, details regarding its privacy updates remain undisclosed.
Recall necessitates a Windows Copilot+ compatible PC equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of at least 45 TOPS, along with a storage capacity ranging from 25GB to 150GB. As for intelligent media search, it remains uncertain whether it will impose similar requirements on users, given its reliance on AI models.
