AI capabilities

Winsage
April 6, 2025
Microsoft introduced Copilot Vision during an event celebrating its 50th Anniversary. This feature allows users to point their camera at objects for real-time identification by AI, integrating OpenAI's GPT models for enhanced memory, search, personalization, and visual capabilities. Currently available on the Windows Desktop app, Copilot Vision can recognize open applications without continuous monitoring. It adapts its responses based on the specific application in use, such as providing contextually relevant guidance in Blender 3D and visually indicating tools in Clipchamp. More advanced features are anticipated in the future, but no specific timeline has been provided.
Winsage
April 5, 2025
Microsoft's CEO of AI, Mustafa Suleyman, outlined the company's strategy for AI development, focusing on adapting its Copilot digital assistant to consumer needs. Despite having a large inventory of Nvidia GPUs, Microsoft is not using them for the most advanced AI models, opting instead for a measured approach that allows for lower costs and targeted solutions. The company collaborates with organizations like OpenAI and CoreWeave to enhance products such as Bing and Windows. A new feature called "memory" will be added to Copilot, allowing it to retain user information for personalized interactions. Microsoft has invested .75 billion in OpenAI, but in July 2024, it classified OpenAI as a competitor. OpenAI announced a collaboration with Oracle on the Stargate project, moving away from exclusive reliance on Microsoft Azure, although Microsoft stated that OpenAI remains committed to Azure. Suleyman emphasized the importance of developing internal AI capabilities and maintaining a long-term partnership with OpenAI through at least 2030.
Winsage
April 4, 2025
Microsoft launched an enhanced version of its AI assistant, "Copilot," which can remember user preferences and perform tasks autonomously, during its 50th anniversary event. The assistant can independently book tickets, make reservations, and shop online. This update is part of a strategic overhaul to improve Microsoft's consumer image and reduce reliance on OpenAI. The event featured former CEO Steve Ballmer and co-founder Bill Gates, highlighting past challenges in the consumer market. Current CEO Satya Nadella has shifted focus to cloud services, resulting in a significant increase in share price. Copilot will include a podcast-generating feature and a "Vision" feature for processing information from a user's phone camera. Microsoft aims to enhance its Bing search engine to compete with Google, which dominates the search market. The company hired Mustafa Suleyman and invested in his start-up Inflection AI to advance its AI capabilities. Microsoft maintains a profit-sharing agreement with OpenAI and access to its models until at least 2030.
Winsage
April 1, 2025
Generative AI is being integrated into modern technology, with Microsoft incorporating its Copilot AI into Windows 11. Marc Andreessen revealed that a small Llama AI model from Meta operated on a Windows 98 PC with 128MB of RAM. Although the specific Meta AI model was not disclosed, it suggests older technology could have supported generative AI capabilities. Andreessen noted that running Llama AI on a 26-year-old Dell PC could have enabled human-like interactions with computers decades ago. An experiment by Exo Labs successfully ran a modified version of Meta's Llama 2 on a Pentium II-based Windows 98 PC, overcoming challenges related to sourcing compatible peripherals and transferring files. The team used Borland C++ 5.02 for compiling modern code but eventually switched to an older version of the C programming language due to compatibility issues. The project required developing a streamlined version of the AI model to function within the hardware limitations of the legacy PC. This illustrates that even older PCs had the potential to support generative AI.
Winsage
March 31, 2025
Microsoft is enabling all Copilot Plus PCs powered by Intel and AMD processors to generate Live Captions, which translate audio into English subtitles in real time. This feature was initially tested on devices with Intel and AMD chips and is now part of the latest Windows 11 update. The update also includes Cocreator, an AI tool in Paint for generating images from text descriptions, and enhancements to the Photos app's AI image editor and generator. Previously, these features were exclusive to Qualcomm-powered Copilot Plus PCs. Microsoft is also testing Recall, an AI feature for capturing screenshots of user activity, though its release timeline is not yet announced. Additionally, Voice Access is being refreshed for improved communication, with plans to extend updates to Intel and AMD devices, including the ability to translate 27 languages into Simplified Chinese.
Winsage
March 31, 2025
- Windows was originally named "Interface Manager" before being changed to "Windows" prior to its launch in 1985. - Early versions of Windows (1.0, 2.0, and 3.x) operated on top of MS-DOS and required users to boot into MS-DOS before launching the graphical interface. - The Briefcase folder was an early tool for synchronizing files between computers, which became obsolete with the rise of cloud storage solutions. - Prior to Windows XP, user profiles were basic and lacked robust security; full user accounts were implemented with Windows NT. - Several applications from Windows 1.0, including Calculator, Paint, Notepad, Clock, and Control Panel, are still present in Windows 11 in modernized forms. - The "Format" dialog in File Explorer has used the same code for over 30 years, although updates for FAT32 support are being developed. - TrueType fonts were introduced in Windows 3.1 in 1992 through a licensing agreement with Apple, improving font rendering quality. - The "Ctrl + Alt + Delete" shortcut was created by IBM engineer David Bradley as a debugging tool and later adopted by Microsoft for secure attention sequences in Windows NT. - Windows 1.0 required a minimum of 256KB of RAM at its launch in 1985, while Windows 11 requires at least 4GB.
Winsage
March 25, 2025
Microsoft is set to release updates for Windows 11, focusing on user experience through artificial intelligence. Two preview builds, Windows 11 Build 26100.3613 and Windows 11 Build 26100.3624, are available to Windows Insiders, with an official rollout expected in April. Key features include: - Introduction of semantic search, allowing users to search using natural language instead of exact keywords, initially available on Snapdragon-powered devices. - Live captions and real-time translation for AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs, translating spoken content into English, while Snapdragon users can translate English into Chinese. - Enhancements to Voice Access, allowing users to describe commands and adding support for the Chinese language. - New "cards" in the Settings app displaying key specifications like CPU, memory, and storage. - Modifications to Task Manager for tracking CPU utilization. - A new Xbox gamepad keyboard interface for desktop PCs. - An updated emoji interface with a new system tray icon for easier emoji insertion. - Improvements to widgets for better control over lock screen display.
Winsage
March 25, 2025
The Photos app on Windows 11 is undergoing significant updates, currently available for Windows Insiders in the Release Preview Channel. Key features include Optical Character Recognition (OCR) supporting over 160 languages, allowing users to extract and search text from images. A new "Search in Web" function enables users to find online results for selected text. The update also introduces a Copilot button within the Photos app for image enhancement tips, insights, and framing suggestions. Additionally, new shortcuts in File Explorer provide direct access to AI editing and Visual Search, allowing users to create with Designer and erase unwanted elements. The app now supports JXL files and includes bug fixes for improved performance. Users can enable the "Show subfolders" option to view images and videos from subfolders in the Gallery.
Winsage
March 25, 2025
Copilot+ PCs will receive an upgrade to the Windows Search feature, which uses AI and dedicated hardware for improved document, image, and settings search capabilities. This enhanced feature is currently exclusive to Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel devices expected soon. The new search allows natural language queries and integrates semantic indexing, enabling users to find content without exact file names. Users can also search for cloud-stored photos using personalized phrases, with results from OneDrive. The improved Windows Search will be available through the Windows Insider Program by early 2025, with a consumer-focused AI event planned for April 4, 2025, where new features will be unveiled.
Search