Windows 11 gets Microsoft Copilot plugins and more AI upgrades

Following the launch of Copilot Pro in January, Microsoft today will begin rolling out a series of upgrades to make its AI assistant more useful in Windows 11. The biggest addition is plugin support, something that previously didn’t work previously than with Copilot on the web. For example, you can connect Copilot to OpenTable so you can make a reservation from its chat window. If you’re short on groceries, you can start an order using the Instacart plugin. Microsoft says plugins from Kayak, Klarna and Shopify will also arrive within the next month. The goal, of course, is to keep you locked into the Copilot window for as long as possible.

Microsoft doesn’t even want you to exit Copilot to access system settings. With this new update, you will be able to turn battery saver mode on and off, or view your system’s hardware profile, from the AI ​​chat view. You can also ask Copilot to enable Windows 11’s live captions, narrator, or screen magnifier. It can even display a list of available Wi-Fi networks to connect to. Mainstream users might end up liking the ability to exploit Windows 11 features without navigating the Settings app, so the improved Copilot integration could end up being a usability win for Microsoft.

Windows 11 apps that use AI-powered features, like Photos and Clipchamp, also get some AI improvements. Photos now has a generative erase feature that can help you remove unwanted objects and elements from an image, while Clipchamp will begin previewing an AI silence removal tool to remove distracting video moments.

Microsoft says it will begin rolling out these Copilot and AI upgrades starting today to users running Windows 11 with year-end updates 22H2 (2022) and 23H2 (2023). If you’re eager to try out the new features, make sure you’ve enabled the “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” option. The company expects most features to be available when the optional, non-security update launches in March 2024.