Microsoft's Recall Feature for Copilot+ PCs: Back in the Game
Microsoft introduces Recall feature on Copilot+ computers, offering details on its impact
It's been a year since Microsoft introduced the Recall feature, an AI tool designed to create a searchable timeline of your computer activities, at the Build event. Whilst exciting, this feature sparked a barrage of privacy concerns. Now, after somecosmetic changes and refining its privacy controls, Recall is officially rolling out for Copilot+ PCs, as revealed in a recent Windows blog post.
Microsoft Corp's latest blog update announced that Recall "retrieves your digital memory," enabling users to swiftly and securely find long-lost apps, browser tabs, documents, or images using simple descriptions. Whether you're on the hunt for a PowerPoint presentation or that photograph saved last week, Recall can lower your search time by up to 70%. All you need to do is describe the content in your own words, and boom! Less digging required.
Though Recall initially ignited flurries of privacy debate, rest assured that the feature is now an opt-in experience. There's a suite of privacy controls allowing users to decide what gets stored on their timeline. To make your data as secure as Fort Knox, Microsoft has implemented additional security features such as data encryption, Windows Hello sign-in, and isolation in Recall.
Dive Deeper with AI: Windows Search and Click to Do
The Recall unveiling wasn't Microsoft's only trick up its sleeve; the tech titan also provided insights into two additional AI features for Copilot+ PCs.
The upgraded Windows Search is a game-changer, no longer requiring exact keyword matches to return relevant results. Instead, it recognizes searches based on natural language and phrases you'd typically use. For instance, instead of typing "beach with a pink umbrella" to find a picture, you could simply describe the image as "my beach photo with a pink umbrella."
Microsoft's new Click to Do feature promises to streamline the way you use your PC. By prompts like hitting the Windows button and clicking the mouse, tools you frequently use will be at your fingertips without hopping between apps. Need to screenshot an image on a website? Click to Do will take care of that for you.
These AI advancements are set to hit the Copilot+ PC scene starting from the April 2025 Windows non-security preview update, with their rollout commencing in May.
Join our newsletter: The Snapshot
For all future computing updates, don't forget to subscribe to our free newsletter, The Snapshot. You'll receive industry insights straight to your inbox.
[1] Gadgets 360 - Microsoft's Recall Feature for Windows 11 Is Now Available for All Users
[2] ComputerWorld - Microsoft's Recall feature is now allowed on Windows 11 PCs, and it's opt-in by default
[3] TechRadar - Microsoft Recall feature turns your PC into a digital secretary
[4] Motherboard - Signal 'Fixes' Microsoft's Recall Feature. But It Could Break Screenshots for Visually Impaired Users
- Since its official release for all Windows 11 users, the Recall feature on Copilot+ PCs has been putting the traditional search methods to shame, thanks to its AI-powered abilities. (Source: Gadgets 360)
- The recent AI advancements in technology by Microsoft, including the Recall feature and the upgraded Windows Search, are aimed at making computer use more intuitive and user-friendly. (Implied from the article context)
- By describing your query in natural language instead of specific keywords, you can take advantage of the improved Windows Search, which will provide more accurate and relevant search results. (Implied from the article context)
- In addition to the Recall feature, Microsoft's Click to Do promises to revolutionize the way you navigate tasks on your PC by bringing the most frequently used tools directly to your fingertips. (Implied from the article context)
