Microsoft has been teasing us with the release of Windows 11 for months now, and with its announcement, the tech giant revealed one of the most exciting new features, Windows Copilot. This AI assistant is designed to help users navigate their way around the new operating system and assist with complex tasks. The preview of Windows Copilot was released in June, and we’ve been putting it through its paces to see if it’s worth the upgrade.
What is Windows Copilot?
Windows Copilot is an AI-powered assistant that works as a co-pilot to help users navigate Windows 11. It uses natural language processing technology and large language models such as GPT-4 to help people complete complex or cognitive tasks. The idea behind Windows Copilot is to make it easier for users to get things done on their PCs. You can ask it to perform tasks such as opening an application, changing system settings, or summarizing lengthy documents.
Windows Copilot offers a range of capabilities, including:
While it can’t replace your work entirely, Copilot aims to save you time and effort by handling mundane tasks and providing helpful suggestions.
How do I get Windows Copilot?
To access the developer preview of Windows Copilot, join the Windows Insider Program and upgrade to Windows 11 Dev Build 23493.
How to Use Windows Copilot?
Before you can use Windows Copilot, you need to join the Windows Insider Program and upgrade to Windows 11 Dev Build 23493. Once the update is complete, the Windows Copilot icon will appear in the taskbar. If it’s not there, you can right-click the taskbar to open the corresponding switch.
The Windows Copilot interface is similar to Bing Chat or the Bing sidebar in the Edge browser. You can select different chat styles, such as more creative, more formal, or a balance. You can also use voice commands or the Win + C shortcut key to call up the Windows Copilot interface.
What Can Windows Copilot Do?
Windows Copilot can perform simple command operations such as turning off/on dark mode or taking a screenshot. It can also assist with more complex tasks such as summarizing lengthy documents, rewriting or explaining documents, or even suggesting ways to work more efficiently. For example, if you ask “How can I work more efficiently?” Windows Copilot may suggest opening the focus mode and adjusting the system interface to a more immersive dark mode.
Windows Copilot’s natural language processing technology allows it to understand your commands and perform them quickly. However, it’s not perfect, and sometimes it may misunderstand your commands. For example, when you ask it to open File Explorer, it may understand it as a search command and call Bing Chat to answer.
Is Windows Copilot Worth the Upgrade?
From the preview version, Windows Copilot can indeed achieve the function of natural language manipulation of the system to some extent. It can perform simple tasks quickly and efficiently, which can save you a lot of time and unnecessary repetitive labor. However, it’s not perfect, and sometimes it may misunderstand your commands.
The response time from calling up Copilot, typing in the command, to its understanding and execution may take some time. Windows Copilot will also pop up an “execute or not” dialog box before executing a command, requiring you to confirm again. The current version of Windows Copilot cannot achieve that level yet. However, it’s still a valuable addition to Windows 11, and we can’t wait to see how it evolves in the future.
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