While you may not have a dedicated Copilot key on your PC keyboard just yet, exciting updates are on the horizon for Windows 11 users. Starting today, Microsoft is enhancing Copilot's capabilities, allowing it to manage a broader range of everyday tasks directly on your desktop. These upgrades include new skills for adjusting Windows 11 settings and plugins for services like OpenTable, Shopify, and Kayak. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing advanced AI editing features in essential applications such as Clipchamp and Photos, alongside improvements to widgets and the Windows snap functionality, which helps you organize multiple application windows efficiently.
The rollout of these new skills is set to begin in late March. With this upgrade, Copilot will enable you to perform actions such as toggling battery saver mode, displaying device and battery information, launching live captions, using the text-to-speech Narrator, checking your IP address, and clearing your recycle bin.
What’s truly compelling about these enhancements isn't just the specific functionalities but the broader vision for Copilot. This tool aims to evolve into an intelligent assistant that can autonomously handle more intricate tasks on your PC. Recent AI-driven device developments have largely focused on mobile, but Microsoft envisions a versatile desktop copilot that could not only open and manage applications for you but potentially replace some of these applications altogether.
The introduction of new plugins is a significant step in this direction. Whether making restaurant bookings through OpenTable, organizing travel plans via Kayak, or integrating with Shopify, these features represent just the beginning of what's to come, with further expansions expected over the next month.
Moreover, Microsoft is integrating additional AI features into its existing Windows applications. One key feature is a generative erase option in the Photos app, similar to the functionality offered in Google Photos but not as advanced as Photoshop’s generative fill. Additionally, Clipchamp now includes a feature that automatically removes silence from your videos, available starting today.
Get ready for a transformed Windows 11 experience with AI-driven enhancements that will streamline your daily computing tasks.