Microsoft is advancing its integration of AI into Windows 11 by testing a new Copilot button. This feature, found in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview build, allows users to share any open app window directly with Copilot Vision from the taskbar. When hovering over an app on the taskbar, users will see a new option labeled ‘Share with Copilot’ alongside the usual preview window. Selecting this option launches Copilot Vision, which analyzes the visible content of the application window, enabling users to engage with Microsoft’s AI assistant for further insights or context. For instance, Copilot Vision could recognize celebratory moments during a sports broadcast or provide details about an artwork displayed in a photograph.
Additionally, it can offer tutorials and relevant context associated with what is shown, transforming Copilot from a text-based assistant into a more visually aware companion. A screenshot shared by Microsoft illustrates this button in the preview of a Microsoft Edge window, although the company has noted that this functionality will extend to other applications as well. This addition is part of Microsoft’s broader initiative to incorporate Copilot throughout the operating system and its toolkit. Copilot buttons are already present in Microsoft Paint, Notepad, and across the taskbar. New keyboards and laptops are even equipped with dedicated Copilot keys, emphasizing the company’s commitment to making AI a central aspect of everyday Windows usage. Nonetheless, reactions have been mixed.
Terrence O’Brien, the weekend editor for the Verge, humorously remarked, ‘Have enough Copilot buttons in your life? No, you don’t — have another one!’ Many Windows users feel that while AI enhancements can be beneficial, the continuous introduction of new Copilot shortcuts seems unnecessary and risks cluttering the interface. Interestingly, this new taskbar button is being tested alongside another Copilot feature in the same Insider build that some users may find more useful: the capability to instantly translate on-screen text. In contrast, the new taskbar shortcut may seem redundant given the various existing methods to access Copilot. However, Microsoft has stated that this is a trial feature.
‘We’re trying out this taskbar capability,’ the company noted, indicating that it may not be included in the final version of Windows 11. Insider builds frequently serve as experimental platforms, and features that do not resonate with users are often removed before reaching public releases. The challenge for Microsoft is evident: while the company aims to make AI an everyday computing tool, it must also address concerns that users may feel overwhelmed by Copilot’s proliferation. This latest trial underscores both the potential benefits and challenges of deeply integrating AI into an operating system. Currently, Windows Insiders can experience the ‘Share with Copilot’ taskbar button firsthand, but its future in upcoming updates remains uncertain.