To support its current users, Microsoft is introducing new AI tools set to launch in Windows 11, the official successor to Windows 10. These updates aim to enhance interactivity, efficiency, and intelligence on Windows PCs. Members of the Windows Insider Program and Copilot Labs, Microsoft’s testing group for its AI tools, will soon receive an upgraded version of the Copilot assistant available in Windows 11. This next-generation Copilot will be able to switch between web and desktop applications to perform tasks, such as resizing images using locally stored files, thus eliminating the need for cloud-based resources or continuous internet access. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s Chief Marketing Officer for Consumer Products, provided a glimpse of these features during a press briefing.
One example he shared involved using Copilot AI to search Spotify for all available songs by Brian Eno, create a new playlist, and begin playing those songs in one seamless action. While this concept is not entirely new—companies like Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI have developed advanced models known as “computer-use agents” that can follow multi-step directives and execute tasks like a human—Microsoft is making this technology more widely accessible through a feature called “Copilot Actions.” Initially designed for business users creating AI-powered workflows, Copilot Actions will now be available to consumers in Windows 11 as well.
By default, this AI feature is turned off, but users can opt to allow Copilot Actions to operate quietly in the background while they focus on other tasks.
