After a prolonged wait, Microsoft has unveiled the availability of two Copilot+ features—Recall and Click to Do—for compatible Intel and AMD PCs. Initially launched on select Arm-based laptops, these features are now set to enhance the productivity of users with specific processor configurations.
Introducing Microsoft Recall
Among the two, Microsoft Recall stands out due to its unique functionality. This feature captures user activity by taking screenshots at regular intervals, allowing Windows to utilize AI to sift through this data. Users can easily retrieve information such as recipes, past conversations, or documents they have worked on. However, this capability has ignited discussions surrounding privacy and data security, raising questions about the implications of such surveillance-like functionality.
Click to Do: A Practical Companion
In contrast, Click to Do presents a more straightforward utility. This feature allows users to perform common tasks directly from screenshots. For instance, capturing text enables options such as copying, searching online, or opening the text in an application. Similarly, image captures can be edited, shared, or saved, providing a seamless workflow for users engaged in various tasks.
To utilize these features, users must have a compatible processor equipped with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). Currently, this includes laptops featuring Intel’s Lunar Lake (Core Ultra 200V series) or AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 CPUs.
Clarifications on Compatibility
Despite earlier expectations that an update would enable all Ryzen AI 300 or Lunar Lake PCs to access Copilot+ features with the Windows 11 2024 Update, the rollout appears more selective. Other features leveraging the local NPU, such as Microsoft’s Studio Effects or the Cocreator tool within Paint, remain unavailable for the time being.
Brandon LeBlanc, a co-author of Microsoft’s recent blog post, addressed these concerns on social media, emphasizing that the current focus is solely on the features being rolled out today. He clarified that any features not mentioned are not yet available, leaving users awaiting further updates on Studio Effects and other applications.
For those eager to experience Microsoft Recall and Click to Do, joining the Windows Insiders program and installing Build 26120.2510 from the Dev Channel is necessary. As with any early preview version, users may encounter bugs or incomplete functionalities, particularly with Recall, which has a documented list of known issues.
Updated at 12:40 PM with additional reporting by Mark Hachman.
