Microsoft Launches “Copilot+ PC” for an Upgraded Windows Experience

Microsoft has announced a significant wave of new Windows experiences designed for Copilot+ PCs, which the company describes as “the fastest, most intelligent and most secure Windows PCs ever built.”

These AI-powered enhancements aim to make Windows more intuitive, accessible, and useful across various applications and system functions.

According to Microsoft’s research, 73% of consumers report using AI to boost productivity, while 75% use it for creative purposes.

Many of these features will roll out to Windows Insiders over the coming month before wider distribution, with some capabilities exclusive to Copilot+ PCs.

Microsoft is introducing professional-grade AI editing tools across its native applications with no subscription required for Copilot+ PC users.

The Photos app gains a new “relight” feature that adds dynamic lighting controls, allowing users to position multiple light sources, adjust colors, and set focus points.

Paint receives two major AI enhancements: a sticker generator that creates custom digital stickers from text prompts, and an object select tool that uses context-aware selection to highlight specific elements for targeted editing.

The Snipping Tool updates include a “perfect screenshot” function that automatically adjusts capture areas, along with text extraction and color picker capabilities.

Notepad is gaining AI-powered writing and summarization features, plus lightweight formatting options including bold, italic, lists, and headings with Markdown support.

Improved Accessibility and User Interface

A redesigned Start menu will offer more personalization options and automatically sort apps based on usage patterns.

The new phone companion feature integrates Android and iOS devices directly into the Start menu for quick access, though this will roll out later in 2025 to the European Economic Area.

File Explorer is gaining AI actions that allow users to interact more deeply with files, enabling quick summarization of content or image editing without opening separate applications.

Accessibility features see significant enhancements, with Narrator now offering rich image descriptions for visuals including charts, photos, and UI elements.

Users can press Narrator key + Ctrl + D to hear detailed descriptions of image content, colors, text, and numbers.

Copilot on Windows is expanding with “Copilot Vision,” which can analyze any browser or app window, and new voice activation options including a “Hey, Copilot!” command.

Third-Party Integration and Microsoft Store Updates

Microsoft is partnering with independent software vendors to leverage the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in Copilot+ PCs for enhanced performance and efficiency.

Highlighted applications include Moises Live by Music.AI for real-time audio separation, which performs 35 times faster on the Snapdragon X NPU compared to CPU processing.

Gigapixel AI by Topaz Labs enables high-quality image upscaling up to 16 times the original size while maintaining detail.

Other NPU-optimized applications include Capcut, DJay Pro, Davinci Resolve, Camo, Cephable, and Liquidtext.

The Microsoft Store receives an AI Hub section showcasing experiences optimized for Copilot+ PCs, along with personalized recommendations and product page badges identifying apps built exclusively for these devices.

Copilot integration directly in the Store helps users discover new AI-powered applications while browsing.

Microsoft emphasizes these features represent the beginning of their vision for the future of Windows, with continued rollout through 2025.

The company remains “committed to developing experiences that make each and everything you do on Windows feel more effortless, personal and capable.”

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