Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 update that will allow the use of artificial intelligence to search for files and images directly through the Copilot app. The feature can currently be tried out by Windows 11 beta users who are participating in the Windows Insider pre-evaluation programme and have Copilot+ PCs.
In testing, Copilot allows you to find files by name, time of last interaction, or document type. This enhances the search experience, because users can search for information in natural language without having to remember exact file names. Earlier this year, Microsoft already added AI search to Windows, which is also available on Copilot+ PCs.
In addition, developers are experimenting with the Copilot interface’s home screen, which displays recent apps, files, and chats. There are new ways to interact with the virtual assistant: by selecting one of the recent apps in the “Get help with your apps” section, Copilot Vision can now be activated to scan the screen and help you use the app.
Users can also interact with the AI assistant directly through recent files and images. For example, you can select a document or photo from the left panel, move it to a chat window and ask Copilot to summarise the text, recognise objects in the image or gather additional information.