Microsoft has introduced AI enhancements in Windows 11, particularly in File Explorer, featuring "Ask Copilot" and "Semantic Indexing." AI actions have been added to the context menu, allowing users to perform tasks based on file types, with integration into Microsoft 365 apps, Photos, or Paint. The rollout began with the September 2025 Security Update, but users in Europe may experience delays in access.
To enable AI actions in File Explorer, users should open Settings, click on Apps, select the Actions page, and turn on the AI actions. Users can engage with AI actions by right-clicking on image files (JPG, JPEG, PNG) and selecting options like Bing Visual Search, Blur Background, Erase Objects, Remove Background, and Describe Image. If Microsoft 365 apps are installed, users can summarize documents and convert tables without opening the apps.
To disable AI actions, users can follow the same steps as enabling them but turn off the AI actions instead. The "AI actions" menu will still appear, but no active features will be displayed.