The last time Microsoft added dedicated keys to the Windows keyboard layout was in 1994. At that time, the Windows key of the same name was introduced. Three decades later, the Redmond-based tech giant is ready to put artificial intelligence at the world’s fingertips.
The “Copilot” key, named after Microsoft’s AI digital assistant, will provide easy access to AI-based features and will be built into Windows 11 keyboards starting later this year.
This move furthers Microsoft’s strategy to deeply integrate AI across its products and services. Through partnerships with AI leaders like OpenAI and Meta, and significant internal investments, the tech giant aims to seamlessly make AI a part of users’ everyday digital experiences.
“We believe it will make it easier for people to participate in the AI transformation,” Microsoft said in a blog post announcing the changes. “The Co-Pilot key is a core part of the PC keyboard and combines with the Windows key, and when pressed, a new key appears. “You can call Copilot from your Windows environment and use Copilot seamlessly in your daily life.”
This key, located near the spacebar, replaces the right “CTRL” key or menu key, depending on your computer model. The new Copilot keyboard keys will start appearing on Windows 11 laptops and desktops from major manufacturers like Dell and HP starting this month.
Pressing the Copilot key summons an AI assistant to help you with a variety of tasks, from writing emails and documents to adjusting your PC settings and more.
Microsoft describes this as “another transformative moment in the Windows journey, as Copilot will become the entry point into the world of AI on the PC.”
The Copilot assistant itself is powered by generative AI models such as GPT-4.5 Turbo and Dall-E 3 provided by OpenAI, a Microsoft partner that developed the popular ChatGPT chatbot. Microsoft has invested $10 billion in OpenAI, ensuring early access to cutting-edge AI systems.
“We will continue to build Windows to be the destination for the best AI experiences,” Microsoft said, emphasizing the mix of local and cloud processing in the operating system expected to be released this year.
The keyboard update is in line with reports of Microsoft’s plans to move Windows to an annual update cycle focused on delivering new AI features. The 2024 update, codenamed “Hudson Valley,” will introduce enhancements such as using AI to improve media quality and provide real-time translations.
AI is being integrated into the everyday user experience across Microsoft products, from the Office productivity suite to Outlook and Teams. The legendary Paint has also added AI-based features, making it closer to a lightweight Photoshop than the program kids used to draw stick figures 20 years ago.
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