Microsoft is set to enhance the creative landscape of its nearly four-decade-old applications, Paint and Notepad, by integrating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. These new features are currently being rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels on Windows 11, with a focus on boosting both creativity and productivity.
Paint gets a generative AI boost
In a significant upgrade, Paint will introduce two innovative AI-driven features: Generative Fill and Generative Erase. Generative Fill empowers users to seamlessly add or alter elements within an image simply by articulating their desires through text prompts. By selecting a specific area and providing a description, users can generate new content that harmonizes with the existing style of the image. For instance, one could request the AI to create a medieval castle within a designated section of a Windows XP wallpaper, and it will oblige with a fitting creation. Initially, this feature will be accessible on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs.
Meanwhile, Generative Erase offers users the ability to remove unwanted objects from their images effortlessly. By selecting the object for removal, the AI intelligently fills in the surrounding area, ensuring the image appears as though the object was never present. This feature will be available to all Windows 11 users, enhancing the overall user experience.
Beyond these groundbreaking additions, Microsoft is also enhancing the performance and expanding the reach of existing AI functionalities in Paint, including Cocreator and Image Creator, ensuring users can maximize their creative potential.
Notepad gets AI for rewriting
Notepad, the quintessential text editor, is also undergoing a remarkable transformation with the introduction of the Rewrite feature. This enhancement allows users to rephrase sentences, adjust the tone, and modify the length of their text using AI. By selecting the text they wish to revise, users can generate multiple variations and choose the one that aligns best with their intent. This feature is currently available in preview to all Windows 11 users in select regions.
In addition to these AI advancements, Microsoft has made strides in improving Notepad’s launch performance. The latest update promises a significant reduction in app launch time, with most users experiencing improvements of over 35%, and some even enjoying enhancements of 55% or more, making the user experience smoother and more efficient.
