Copilot on Windows 11 is undergoing a transformation with the introduction of a new “Home” tab, moving away from the conventional ‘chat-first’ interface that has characterized many AI assistants. This fresh Home UI evokes a sense of familiarity reminiscent of the Start menu, serving as a central hub for accessing various applications and files. In this case, the Home tab acts as a gateway to all AI functionalities offered by Copilot.
Exploring the New Features
Upon updating through the Microsoft Store, users will discover the new Home tab, which maintains the friendly greeting from Copilot but introduces a significant alteration in the title bar. This allows users to toggle between the Home tab and the previous chat-focused interface, which prominently featured past conversations.
The Home tab showcases four prominent cards, echoing the concept of live tiles from Windows 8, yet these cards are dynamic rather than static. They facilitate quick access to recently used files, thanks to Copilot’s integration with Windows. However, users must enable this feature in their settings to fully utilize it.
During testing, it was observed that the “Jump back into your files” card pulls recent files directly from File Explorer’s Quick Access tab. While Copilot presents a simple list, clicking on a three-dot menu beside each file name reveals options such as Open, Attach to prompt, and Summarise.
For instance, selecting “Open” for a Word document seamlessly launches MS Word, the default application for .docx files. This functionality illustrates that the new Copilot Home tab is not merely an AI interface; it also enhances navigation within Windows, hinting at a promising evolution for the operating system.
Additionally, the “Attach to prompt” option allows users to drop files into the message compose box for further analysis by Copilot after sending. A toggle feature enables users to “Hide all recent files,” simplifying the Home tab to its four primary cards.
Among the other cards, one provides access to previous conversations, while another, labeled “Work on Copilot Pages,” offers capabilities akin to ChatGPT’s Canvas feature, enabling document or code editing.
One of the standout features on the homepage is the “Get guided help with your apps” card. This innovative addition displays recently used applications, such as Power BI, File Explorer, or WhatsApp. Clicking on any tile initiates a Vision session, allowing Copilot to see your screen and hear your voice, providing personalized assistance with the selected app.
For example, when I selected Power BI, a permission prompt appeared, granting Copilot Vision access to my screen. Instantly, the live banner updated to reflect “Power BI Desktop (Untitled),” indicating active monitoring of my Power BI workspace.
Further insights from our tests revealed references to an upcoming feature that will enable users to launch Copilot’s ChatGPT-powered Agent. This Agent will allow Copilot to open a terminal and browser within a Linux shell hosted in an Azure cloud virtual machine. With this capability, Copilot can automate various tasks, such as booking tickets or planning trips, showcasing advanced functionality that, while not yet available in the current version, is anticipated in future updates.
The overarching vision for Copilot in Windows is clear: Microsoft aims to expand its utility beyond simple AI interactions. With the introduction of the Home tab, the intention is to empower users to leverage Copilot for managing documents, spreadsheets, and file searches on their PCs. While the current features may be limited, the potential for growth and innovation is evident as this new interface rolls out to users, albeit not immediately for everyone.
