Windows 11 users are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Microsoft’s new AI assistant, Copilot, which has recently been released for testing. This marks the first glimpse of the highly anticipated AI assistant for the public.
As promised by Microsoft, Copilot is now available in the preview build 23493 in the Dev channel. However, there are certain limitations to its availability. Currently, only a select group of users will have access to Copilot, with Microsoft gradually expanding its user base over time.
This initial preview of Copilot primarily focuses on the integrated UI experience, with additional features and content expected to be introduced in future previews. While the functionality of Copilot in this early look is limited, users can still utilize its capabilities for tasks such as composing pictures or pieces of writing using Bing AI, summarizing websites in Microsoft Edge, and controlling basic Windows 11 settings like Dark Mode or Do Not Disturb. Other functions include taking screenshots.
It’s worth noting that Copilot currently only supports a basic set of Windows settings plugins and does not yet have third-party plugin support. However, Microsoft has assured users that more features will be added as they refine the Copilot experience with feedback from Windows Insiders.
To use Copilot in this preview build, users must be running Microsoft Edge version 115.0.1901.150 or later.
While the arrival of Copilot is exciting, there is one potential drawback that has caught users’ attention. The blog post mentions the possibility of inline recommendations presented as ads in Bing. Although Microsoft will likely test this feature in small doses and gather feedback, it has sparked concern among users.
Despite the limited availability, those who have accessed Copilot in the Dev channel have expressed satisfaction with its potential. One user on Reddit praised Copilot, stating that it eliminates the need to navigate through the settings page for every minor system change. However, it’s important to note that Copilot is still in its early phase and has room for further development.
There is some disappointment among testers in the Canary channel that Dev users are getting access to Copilot before them, considering that Canary is the earliest testing channel for Windows 11. Nevertheless, it is expected that Copilot will be available to Canary users in the near future.
For those eager for an AI assistant in Windows 11 but have not yet had the opportunity to try Copilot, it may be worth nostalgically revisiting Clippy, the infamous Microsoft Office assistant.
In conclusion, Windows 11 users are finally getting a taste of Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant. Although it is currently in its early stages, the potential of Copilot is evident. With further updates and enhancements expected, users can anticipate the expansion of Copilot’s functionality. However, the concept of ads in Bing appearing within Copilot remains a cause for concern among users.
