Microsoft Paint gets an AI upgrade

Microsoft Paint is getting a major upgrade that injects a dose of cutting-edge technology. Unveiled at the recent Surface event, Paint now boasts a new AI image generation tool as part of its Cocreator (Microsoft's AI-powered creative suite).

This isn't your average AI art generator. While it can create images based on text prompts like many others, it takes things a step further. It allows users to combine their own doodles with text descriptions, enabling a unique level of creative control. Imagine sketching a basic shape and then having AI refine it into a detailed illustration—all within the familiar Paint interface. This iterative process, powered by advanced diffusion-based algorithms, fosters a collaborative feel between artist and machine.

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Microsoft unveils AI-powered 'Recall' for enhanced productivity, but privacy concerns linger

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At its recent Build conference, Microsoft introduced a new feature called "Recall" for Copilot+ PCs. Designed to boost user productivity, Recall allows Windows 11 users to search and retrieve past activities on their devices.

Recall leverages the advanced processing capabilities of Copilot+ PCs to capture snapshots of the user's screen periodically. These encrypted snapshots are stored locally on the PC's hard drive. Users can then search for specific content by using keywords or by navigating a timeline of captured snapshots.

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Microsoft embraces Arm with improved app translation

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Microsoft is making a strong push into Arm-powered Windows PCs with the launch of Surface devices featuring the Snapdragon X Elite processor. This move naturally invites comparisons to Apple's successful transition from Intel to Arm-based designs in its Macs.

A key factor in Apple's success was Rosetta 2, a translation layer that allows users to run most Intel Mac apps on Apple Silicon machines with minimal effort. Windows 11 offers similar functionality, and with the upcoming 24H2 update, it gets a new name: Prism.

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Microsoft unveils Surface Laptop powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips

Microsoft has revealed a new Surface Laptop aimed at consumers, featuring a significant shift under the hood. This iteration ditches Intel processors in favour of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite or Plus chips, directly challenging Apple's powerful M-series MacBooks.

The Surface Laptop boasts impressive specs from the get-go. The base model packs 16GB of RAM (a clear jab at Apple's base offering) and 256GB of SSD storage, powered by the Snapdragon X Plus chip. Both screen sizes (13.8-inch and 15-inch) offer upgrade options for storage (up to 1TB) and RAM (up to 32GB, with a limited-time preorder exclusive for 64GB). All models come equipped with a Qualcomm Adreno GPU for graphics processing.

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