Microsoft backtracks on controversial "Recall" feature for Copilot+ PCs

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Microsoft is making significant changes to its "Recall" feature after concerns were raised about user privacy. Announced as a way to enhance productivity by capturing screenshots of user activity, Recall was met with criticism for potentially creating a trove of sensitive data vulnerable to misuse.

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data watchdog, even launched inquiries into the feature. Microsoft has responded by making Recall opt-in, meaning it will be off by default, and users must explicitly choose to activate it.

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Microsoft turns Windows Copilot into a regular app

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Currently stuck in a sidebar, Copilot will soon be a regular Windows app you can resize and move around freely. This means easier access and multitasking. Instead of a disappearing sidebar, a click on the new Copilot icon in the taskbar launches a movable window.

Microsoft explains it this way: "With this change, users of Copilot will get the benefits of a traditional app experience such as resizing, snapping, and moving the window."

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Level up your video calls with Copilot+ PCs and enhanced Windows Studio Effects

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Copilot+ PCs take video conferencing to the next level with improved Windows Studio Effects powered by the Qualcomm Neural Processing Unit (NPU) inside. This AI-powered suite of features helps you look and sound your best during calls, while also minimizing distractions.

Background blur is a staple video call feature, and Copilot+ PCs elevate it with improved edge detection for a more natural look. No more awkward halo effects around your head! But background blur is just the beginning. Voice focus actively reduces background noise, ensuring your voice is crystal clear, even in noisy environments.

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Windows 11 gets a supercharged Live Captions with Copilot+ PCs

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Live Captions is getting a major upgrade with Copilot+ PCs, a new lineup of Windows laptops powered by Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus chips. This improved feature offers real-time translation of spoken words into English subtitles on the screen, across an impressive 44 languages. No matter if you're on a video call, watching a movie, or listening to a lecture, Live Captions can transcribe the audio for better understanding.

Previously, Live Captions was an accessibility feature in Windows 11, but it was limited to 10 languages and worked primarily with pre-recorded/existing videos. Copilot+ PCs unlock the full potential of Live Captions, making it a powerful real-time translation tool.

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