On Friday, Microsoft unveiled a new Windows 11 Insider Preview build, introducing enhancements to both the Paint application and the Windows Search functionality. This beta update is currently accessible to Windows Insider users participating in the Canary and Dev channels. Among the notable changes is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) features within Paint, now conveniently housed in a new Copilot menu. Furthermore, the revamped semantic indexing in Windows Search extends its capabilities to include files stored in OneDrive, with a particular focus on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.
Microsoft Paint Gets a Copilot Button
In a recent blog post, Microsoft elaborated on the innovative features accompanying the latest Windows 11 beta update, identified as version 26120.3073 (KB5050090). While the tech giant has yet to announce a timeline for a global rollout, the enhancements are currently available for testing in the aforementioned channels.
Over the past two years, Microsoft has progressively infused the Paint app with a variety of AI-driven functionalities. Among these is the Cocreator feature, which can generate AI images based on user sketches. This tool allows users to finely tune the extent of AI enhancement applied to their artwork. Additionally, the Image Creator serves as a text-to-image generator, crafting visuals from user-defined prompts and selected art styles.
Another noteworthy addition is the Generative Erase feature, enabling users to seamlessly remove unwanted objects from images while intelligently reconstructing the background. The Remove Background function further simplifies the editing process, allowing users to eliminate backgrounds with a single click.
With the latest update, all these features are now conveniently organized within the Copilot menu, located on the right side of the toolbar. Upon clicking the dropdown menu, users can view all available tools along with brief descriptions. It is important to note that the Cocreator feature is exclusively available for Copilot+ PC users.
In tandem with the updates to Paint, Microsoft is also enhancing the semantic indexing capabilities of Windows Search. Initially introduced last month, this natural language search feature will now support not only documents but also photos and files stored in OneDrive’s cloud service. Similar to the Paint enhancements, this feature will also be limited to users of Copilot+ PCs.
