Microsoft has demonstrated new AI capabilities in Windows 11, including integrating its Copilot AI tool into File Explorer and the taskbar.
In the taskbar, you’ll be able to press the “@” key within the Windows 11 search bar to bring up a selection of AI agents you can prompt directly. In one example, Jeremy Chapman, Microsoft 365 Director, asks the Researcher agent to “compare public sentiment with our design principles,” which seems pretty vague, but Copilot happily gets to work on it any way.
When the task is finished, he gets a notification, and pulls up the lengthy report. Chapman quickly scrolls through it, and assures us it’s well-researched and comprehensive. I’d probably want to do a more in-depth read through of it to confirm, personally.
In File Explorer, files now have a little Copilot button next to them; click to prompt Copilot to interact with the document. In this case, Chapman uses it to summarize a finding from the document without opening the file.
To enjoy all these swanky new capabilities you’ll need a Windows 11 PC with a Microsoft 365 Work or School account and access to Copilot.
For anyone with a Copilot+ PC, there are also new voice-transcribing capabilities, contextual screenshotting, improved natural language searching, and enhanced text generation for any app with a text input field.
Microsoft appears to be at a bit of a crossroads with Copilot. It’s been looking for ways to boost Copilot adoption in recent months, as only a reported 3.3% of Copilot users pay for the tool. However, internal teams are also beginning to push back against excessive integration, so Microsoft might dial it back a bit, Windows Central reports.
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Jon Martindale
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Jon Martindale is a tech journalist from the UK, with 20 years of experience covering all manner of PC components and associated gadgets. He’s written for a range of publications, including ExtremeTech, Digital Trends, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, and Lifewire, among others. When not writing, he’s a big board gamer and reader, with a particular habit of speed-reading through long manga sagas.
Jon covers the latest PC components, as well as how-to guides on everything from how to take a screenshot to how to set up your cryptocurrency wallet. He particularly enjoys the battles between the top tech giants in CPUs and GPUs, and tries his best not to take sides.
Jon’s gaming PC is built around the iconic 7950X3D CPU, with a 7900XTX backing it up. That’s all the power he needs to play lightweight indie and casual games, as well as more demanding sim titles like Kerbal Space Program. He uses a pair of Jabra Active 8 earbuds and a SteelSeries Arctis Pro wireless headset, and types all day on a Logitech G915 mechanical keyboard.
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