TLDR: Microsoft is rolling out a suite of new AI-powered features for Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs, including an AI agent in Settings for natural language system configuration, expanded ‘Click to Do’ capabilities for productivity, and ‘Relight’ in the Photos app for AI-powered image editing. These updates, part of the Windows 11 2024 (version 24H2) update, aim to boost productivity, creativity, and overall system usability, with initial availability on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.
Microsoft is significantly advancing the artificial intelligence capabilities of Windows 11 and its new Copilot+ PCs with a series of new feature rollouts. These updates, which began deploying on October 1, 2024, as part of the Windows 11 2024 (version 24H2) update, are designed to integrate AI directly into the core user experience, making interactions more intuitive and efficient.
One of the standout additions is an AI agent embedded directly within the Windows 11 Settings app. Powered by Microsoft’s on-device Mu language model, this agent allows users to adjust system configurations using natural language commands. For instance, users can simply type requests like ‘enable Quiet Hours’ or ‘connect my Bluetooth headset,’ and the AI will parse the intent, execute the necessary API calls, and update system states in real-time. This feature is initially available in English on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for Intel and AMD hardware expected to follow. If the agent cannot directly apply a change, it leverages improved Windows Search to surface the nearest matching controls.
Another key enhancement is the expanded ‘Click to Do’ feature, a preview capability designed to streamline workflows. Activated by pressing Win + Click or Win + Q, this contextual AI overlay analyzes selected text or images and offers relevant actions. Examples include ‘Draft with Copilot in Word’ for generating document drafts, ‘Search the Web,’ or ‘Schedule Teams meeting.’ This feature aims to provide on-demand, super-powered assistance, making tasks like summarizing text or erasing objects in photos quicker and easier. It works anywhere on the screen, offering contextual tips based on user activity.
For creative tasks, the Photos app receives a powerful new AI-powered editing tool called ‘Relight.’ This feature enables users to add professional lighting to any image by placing up to three virtual light sources around a subject. Users can customize these lights for position, intensity, and color, with several presets also available. Additionally, the Photos app gains ‘Super Resolution,’ allowing users to upscale images by up to eight times their original resolution, transforming lower-quality images into high-quality 4K visuals with a simple slider. The Paint application also benefits from new generative AI capabilities, including ‘Generative Fill and Erase’ for intuitive object removal or addition with an adjustable brush.
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These updates underscore Microsoft’s commitment to embedding AI at the core of the Windows 11 experience, aiming to make PCs smarter, faster, and more secure. While many of these features were previously available to Windows Insiders via beta updates, their broader rollout signifies a major step in transforming how users interact with their devices. Microsoft encourages users to migrate to Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCs to leverage these new AI capabilities, especially as Windows 10 support is set to end on October 14, 2025.
