Microsoft has unveiled a new Canary build of Windows 11, introducing a suite of features designed to enhance user experience, with a particular focus on the integration of AI actions within File Explorer. The tech giant encourages users to “leverage the power of AI” for tasks such as summarizing documents and editing images directly from the newly added AI Actions context menu.
While the AI features stand out as a centerpiece of the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27938, the release encompasses a range of enhancements, including numerous bug fixes and the introduction of new clock options, notably the ability to display seconds.
In addition to its innovative AI capabilities, Microsoft has also prioritized user privacy by implementing new AI privacy settings. Users can now navigate to Settings > Privacy & security > Text and image generation to monitor which third-party applications have recently utilized generative AI models. This feature provides transparency regarding specific apps that leverage local Windows-provided generative AI models and allows users to control access, thereby empowering them to manage their device’s AI interactions.
The AI Actions feature in File Explorer is poised to evoke mixed reactions among users, with some embracing the innovation while others may be less enthusiastic. Currently, the AI-powered functionalities are limited to image editing, applicable only to .jpg, .jpeg, and .png file formats.
Microsoft draws parallels between AI actions in File Explorer and its Click to Do feature, suggesting that users can harness editing tools in applications or Copilot functionality without the need to open individual files. Accessing these AI tools is straightforward; users simply need to right-click on a file to reveal the new AI actions entry in the context menu, presenting an array of options tailored to their selected file.
Even more AI in Windows 11
To explore AI actions in File Explorer, right-click on a file and discover the new AI actions entry in the context menu, offering a selection of options for your file.
Currently, users can experiment with four distinct image actions designed for seamless editing and web searches:
- Bing Visual Search: This feature enables users to search the web using an image rather than text, allowing for the discovery of similar images and products, obtaining details about websites featuring the image, and identifying landmarks, plants, and notable figures. Whether it’s for shopping, homework assistance, or translating text, this tool makes finding answers more intuitive.
- Blur Background: By launching the Photos app, this option automatically identifies the background in a photo, allowing users to highlight the subject and blur the background with a single click. Customization is possible by adjusting the Blur Intensity or using the Brush Tool to refine the blurred areas.
- Erase Objects: This feature enables users to select or highlight unwanted elements in a photo, utilizing Generative Erase to make them disappear, effectively removing distractions from images.
- Remove Background: With Paint, users can effortlessly alter images with a single click, creating a smooth cutout of the subject. The background removal tool can detect the subject across the entire canvas or through the selection tool.
In a nod to user feedback, Microsoft is also rolling out a highly requested feature from Windows 10. Users can navigate to Settings > Time & language > Date & time and enable the Show time in the Notification Center option, allowing for a larger clock display with seconds positioned above the date and calendar in the notification center.
The complete release notes detailing bug fixes and enhancements in Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 27938 are available for those interested in a deeper dive into this latest update.
