Windows 11 update with AI assistant Copilot will be released on September 26
Microsoft will make its AI assistant Windows Copilot generally available on September 26. The update that adds this tool contains more than 150 new features, most of which were already available in test versions earlier this year.
Microsoft will integrate Windows Copilot into the operating system’s taskbar, writes The Verge based on the tech giant’s presentation. With one click the application becomes available in a side panel. In addition to users being able to ask the bot questions, just like with Bing Chat, it can also open Windows settings and apps, and enable or disable system functions such as dark mode.
Copilot not only works on Windows, but must also be able to connect to the user’s phone. For example, in the presentation, the prompt “Find my October flight information to New York in my text messages” was completed on the PC, and the messages on the user’s phone were then searched by the AI assistant for the correct info. Copilot can also be used to send a text message to one of the contacts without opening the phone itself.
Finally, it shows that Windows Snipping Tool will also become compatible with Copilot. For example, the assistant should be able to automatically remove backgrounds from cut photos and have the screenshots immediately open in an Adobe app. In addition, Copilot is able to read Snipping Tool screenshots. For example, an example of a math problem in a PDF file is shown. If a screenshot is taken, Copilot can see it and solve the sum immediately.
Other features in the update
In addition to Copilot, the update also contains a lot of other new features, almost all of which had already been made available in previous test versions. This also applies to the Ink Anywhere function. On Surface devices, this allows you to draw anywhere on the screen with a stylus. In addition, the Explorer gets a new look, with larger images and a ‘Home’ page, which shows the most recent and favorite files.
Furthermore, Windows Hello will have access to passkeys, Paint will have a dark mode, the updated Outlook app will become available and Windows will have built-in RAR and 7-zip support. The update also comes with a volume mixer in the quick settings panel and it becomes possible to control RGB hardware from the Windows settings. There will also be a standalone backup app that should allow users to more quickly back up their computer data to the cloud. When setting up a new PC, existing settings can be transferred immediately. Microsoft has not yet announced the full list of new features at the time of writing.
Update, 19.13: An earlier version of this article stated that this was the 23H2 update. In a blog post from Microsoft the company reports However, this update is still part of 22H2. The article has been adjusted accordingly.
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