Microsoft Adds a Ton of New Features to AI Copilot for Windows 11

Microsoft added its AI-powered Copilot assistant to Windows 11 in September 2023, and today, it's launching the first massive update to the service. The new update includes a sizable number of new features, some arriving immediately; others will roll out over the next month or require new apps to be installed. Highlights include the ability to change Windows settings and new plug-ins for popular apps like Instacart, so you can order groceries from Copilot on your computer. The update gives us a glimpse of what an "AI PC" can do, where it functions like a true virtual assistant handling various everyday tasks.

The new list of what Microsoft has added to CoPilot is surprisingly long. At the top is the availability of new plug-ins for OpenTable, Shopify, and Instacart. As an example of what is now possible, you can use a text prompt to have Copilot make a reservation for dinner through OpenTable. If you decide to cancel, the app can do that for you, and then you can have Instacart deliver some groceries so you can cook at home instead. Microsoft says it'll be adding more of these plug-ins to Copilot over the next month, including Shopify, and enabling Copilot on more Windows 11 PCs starting this month.

Here's some of the apps and plug-ins Microsoft is adding to Copilot, and this list is sure to grow over time. Credit: Microsoft

Copilot can access Windows system settings now, though not across the board. For this update, the company has added the ability to turn on battery saver, show system information, display your IP address, show Wi-Fi networks, empty the recycle bin, and a raft of accessibility options such as enabling voice control. However, the list of the newly available settings is relatively small next to how many Windows has, so Microsoft is still in the early stages of enabling this functionality.

Microsoft is also adding image and video editing features to Copilot. For example, you can now open an image in the Photos app and use a new "generative erase" tool to remove unwanted objects easily. It's also adding a "silence removal" feature to Clipchamp, which will automatically take a video clip of people talking and remove any gaps where a subject is silent.

Finally, Microsoft is adding "voice shortcuts" to Copilot, which can be used for tasks like copying files, mouse clicks, opening files and apps, and more. This could be a boon to folks struggling with pain in their hands, but it's unclear precisely how it works and how accurate it is in the real world. Microsoft is also adding new functionality for voice control using multiple monitors for improved ease of use and file handling across displays.

Most of these features are rolling out today via Windows Update, while others are expected later this month. Microsoft is offering them slowly to certain eligible users, which is called a controlled feature rollout (CFR) in corporate speak. To take advantage of them, you must be using an updated version of Windows 11 with either 22H2 or 23H2 installed, and you can use Windows Update to download them starting today.