Microsoft will begin releasing a number of updates today to improve the functionality of Copilot Pro, an AI assistant that was introduced in January, in Windows 11. The most significant update is plugin support, which was previously limited to Copilot’s online functionality. For instance, you might link Copilot to OpenTable so that reservations may be made directly from the chat window of the latter. Using the Instacart plugin, you might place an order if you’re running low on groceries. According to Microsoft, throughout the course of the next month, plugins from Shopify, Klarna, and Kayak will also be available. Naturally, the objective is to confine you to the Copilot window for as long as possible.
Microsoft doesn’t even want you to leave Copilot to access system settings. With this new update, you’ll be able to turn battery saver mode on and off, or view your system’s hardware profile, from within the AI chat view. You could also request that Copilot turn on Windows 11’s Live Captions, Narrator or Screen Magnifier. It can even display a list of available Wi-Fi networks to connect to. Mainstream users might end up loving the ability to tap into Windows 11’s features without navigating through the Settings app, so Copilot’s enhanced integration could end up being a usability win for Microsoft.
Windows 11 apps that use AI-powered features, like Photos and Clipchamp, are also getting a few AI enhancements. Photos now has a Generative Erase feature that can help you remove unwanted objects and elements from a picture, while Clipchamp will begin previewing a Silence Removal AI tool to cut out awkward video moments.
Microsoft says it will begin rolling out these Copilot and AI upgrades starting today for users running Windows 11 with the 22H2 (2022) and 23H2 (2023) year-end updates. If you’re eager to try out the new features, make sure you’ve enabled the option to “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.” The company expects to have most features available when it launches the optional March 2024 non-security preview update.
