Microsoft Integrates AI Technology into PC Keyboards – A Revolutionary Update After 30 Years

For the first time in three decades, Microsoft is introducing a dedicated AI button to its Windows keyboard, marking what the company describes as the beginning of the “year of the AI PC.” Strategically located to the right of the space bar, adjacent to the ‘alt’ key on Windows 11 keyboards, this new button features an open-loop design. Pressing it will activate Microsoft’s AI assistant, known as Copilot.

Copilot offers an array of functionalities, including assistance with drafting emails, analyzing reports, generating and editing images, and sourcing information. This innovation follows the replacement of Cortana, Microsoft’s previous personal assistant, by Copilot in May. To utilize the Copilot feature, users will need to log into their Microsoft account. If Copilot is not available or enabled on the device, pressing the button will default to launching Windows Search.

Availability is set to begin with Microsoft partners in late February and continue through Spring, with new Surface devices and Microsoft’s touchscreen PCs being among the first to feature this transformative tool. Attendees at CES, the world's largest consumer technology show, will get an early glimpse of the button next week, as various PC manufacturers showcase their latest innovations.

The last substantial alteration to Microsoft’s PC keyboard occurred in 1994, when the Windows key was introduced to facilitate access to the start sidebar.

Yusuf Mehdi, Chief Marketing Officer for Microsoft’s consumer division, expressed in a blog post that this change represents “another transformative moment in our journey with Windows, where Copilot will serve as the gateway into the world of AI on the PC.”

Microsoft has already integrated Copilot across various platforms, including Bing Search, the Edge browser, Microsoft 365, and Windows 11. Users will be able to ask Copilot for assistance with tasks that typically require navigating multiple menus or clicks, such as pairing Bluetooth devices.

While users can already access Copilot by selecting the application directly, the addition of a keyboard shortcut makes this increasingly sophisticated tool even more accessible. Copilot leverages advanced AI models from OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, which Microsoft has significantly invested in, amounting to $13 billion.

In addition to these enhancements, users can anticipate AI-powered features being introduced in applications such as Paint, Photos, and Clipchamp, further enriching the Windows experience and demonstrating Microsoft’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into everyday computing tasks.