In a sweeping update to its ecosystem, Microsoft has announced a host of new AI-driven features for Windows 11 and Copilot+ computers, alongside the debut of the Surface Pro 12 and Surface Laptop 13, Windows Central reports.
At the heart of the update is an AI agent integrated directly into Windows 11. Designed to simplify user interaction with system settings, this intelligent assistant responds to natural language prompts. For instance, a user could say, “The mouse pointer is too small,” and the agent will not only locate the relevant setting but can also adjust it automatically upon request.
The Click To Do feature is also expanding. With the new “Ask Copilot” command, users can interact with text and images on their screen to generate Word document drafts, launch tools like Reading Coach or Immersive Reader, communicate via Microsoft Teams, or transfer screen content directly into Excel spreadsheets.
Microsoft is enhancing Windows Search and the Microsoft Store with deeper AI integration. Users will soon be able to search for and install apps more intuitively. The Store will offer personalized app recommendations and feature AI-powered responses about app pages, while highlighting apps with AI capabilities through distinctive badges.
Several standard Windows applications are set for intelligent upgrades:
- Photos will introduce a “relight” tool, enabling the placement of up to three virtual light sources for improved photo editing.
- Paint will gain object selection and sticker generation based on text prompts.
- Snipping Tool will offer auto-cropping, text extraction, and a color picker.
- Notepad will incorporate AI-assisted writing, text summarization, and basic formatting tools.
However, many of these features will initially be exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, starting with Snapdragon-powered devices, and rolling out to Intel and AMD models at a later date.
Microsoft stated that its goal is to make Windows “the most personalized and efficient platform” by leveraging AI and hardware innovation.