Microsoft has announced a number of new features and capabilities for Windows 11, including new skills for Microsoft Copilot and an AI-powered “generative erase” tool for photo editing, as well as several user features focused on patching, security, and accessibility. .
Many of the new features will begin rolling out today through Windows Update and as new apps available in the Microsoft Store. Most features will be enabled by default in the optional non-security preview in March 2024 for all editions of Windows 11, versions 23H2 and 22H2, according to Microsoft.
New features announced for Copilot Preview for Windows 11
As part of the Copilot Preview for Windows 11, Microsoft's generative AI tool is receiving new integrations with popular apps, as well as accessibility features to help users navigate Windows 11 using prompts and voice commands.
For example, starting in late March 2024, Windows 11 users will be able to change system settings using typed prompts directly in Copilot on Windows, currently accessible in Copilot Preview via an icon in the taskbar. or by pressing Windows + C.
Microsoft Copilot will be able to perform the following actions:
- Activate/deactivate battery saving.
- Show device information.
- Show system information.
- Show battery information.
- Open storage page.
- Start live subtitles.
- Launch Narrator.
- Start Screen Magnifier.
- Open the voice access page.
- Open the text size page.
- Open the contrast themes page.
- Start voice input.
- Show available Wi-Fi network.
- Show IP address.
- Show available storage.
New third-party app integrations for Copilot will give Windows 11 users new ways to interact with various apps. For example, make reservations for business lunches through OpenTable.
In a blog postYusuf Mehdi, executive vice president and chief consumer marketing officer at Microsoft, said the company will “add new ways to connect and get things done” through integrations with apps including Shopify, Klarna and Kayak over the next month.
AI-powered generative erase features for photos and videos
Other new AI features for Windows 11 rolling out today include a new AI-powered generative erase tool, reminiscent of Google's Magic Eraser tool for Google Photos. Generative Erase allows users to remove unwanted objects or artifacts from their photos in the Photos app.
Similarly, Microsoft's video editing tool, Clipchamp, will receive a silence removal tool, which works much like its name suggests: it allows users to remove spaces in conversation or audio from a video clip.
Voice controls get accessibility improvements in this new Windows 11 update
Voice access is another focal point of Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update, detailed in a separate blog post by Harjit Dhaliwal, Director of Windows Commercial Product Marketing.
Users can now use voice controls to navigate between multiple screens, with the help of number and grid overlays that make it easy to switch between screens. Voice access now supports multiple languages, including French, German, and Spanish, and users can create custom voice shortcuts for frequently used commands.
Additionally, improvements to Microsoft's built-in screen reading tool, Narrator, will improve the detection of handwriting and text within images, Microsoft said. It will also be able to detect and announce bookmarks in documents and comments in Microsoft Word.
Users will be able to preview different narrator voices before choosing to download them, with a new key command that will allow users to navigate between images on their screen more easily.
Windows Autopatch will offer “unified enterprise update management”
For business users, Microsoft has revised Windows 11 update management to offer a more streamlined experience that gives users more granular control over apps and devices.
Significantly, Windows Autopatch, Microsoft's update service, is being integrated with the Windows Update for Business deployment service, which Microsoft says was done in response to customer feedback and to “make the update ecosystem easier.” to understand”.
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According to Mehdi, Windows Autopatch will now “leverage AI to schedule necessary updates and reduce the impact on team productivity.” Other Autopatch updates include:
- The ability to import update rings for Windows 10 and later (preview).
- Customer-defined service results (preview).
- Improved data update speed and reporting accuracy.
“Autopatch will now become the unifying Windows update management solution, providing a single way for organizations to manage updates while maintaining the highest level of control,” Medhi added.
More Windows 11 updates: Sharing, Streaming, and Cloud PCs
Complete updates for Windows 11 include:
- More options for sharing content with nearby Windows devices, as well as faster transfer speeds.
- Improved detection and suggestions for streaming to nearby devices.
- Passwordless login to Cloud PC via a dedicated mode for Windows 365 boot and quick account switching via Windows 365 Switch.
- A scroll feature for Snap layouts that makes it easy to view and switch between layout options.
How and when can I access the new features of Windows 11?
The new features and capabilities for Windows 11 will roll out from today until April 2024, at which point all eligible users should have access to them. Most features will be available through Windows Update and new apps will be available through Microsoft Store updates.
“Windows 11 devices will get new features at different times as we gradually roll out some of these new features over the next few weeks, initially through Controlled Feature Rollout (CFR) to consumers,” Medhi said.
He continued: “We anticipate broad availability for most new features for the April 2024 security update release for all eligible devices. Most of these new Windows 11 features will be enabled by default in the optional non-security preview in March 2024 for all editions of Windows 11, versions 23H2 and 22H2. “IT administrators who want to get the new features in Windows 11 can use the Enable and control optional updates policy to enable optional updates for their managed devices.”
To ensure you receive updates when they are available, users with eligible devices running Windows 11 versions 22H2 and 23H2 can go to Settings | Windows Update and turn on Get the latest updates as soon as they are available, and then select Check for updates.
A summary of all the new features is available in the Windows Update Setup Documentation. Users can also stay up to date on deployment plans through Windows Version Status Dashboard.
