What you need to know
- Windows Copilot is now available to try out in the latest Windows 11 Dev Channel build.
- The new AI assistant is powered by Microsoft Edge and Bing Chat.
- Users can access Windows Copilot directly from the Taskbar, and the UI will dock to one side of the screen.
- Update: Windows Copilot is now available for all Dev Channel Insiders. It was initially limited to a small selection of Insiders in the Dev Channel.
Want to try out Microsoft's new Windows 11 AI assistant? Now you can! The latest Windows 11 preview build, which just started rolling out to Insiders in the Dev Channel finally includes the new Windows Copilot, which is powered by the same technology that Bing Chat uses.
Microsoft unveiled Windows Copilot last month, and said it would be available in preview starting in June. Right on schedule, Windows Copilot is now available to preview, and is expected to roll out to all users later this year as part of Microsoft's big Fall 2023 feature update for Windows 11.
In today's preview build, Windows Copilot can be launched from the Taskbar and will appear in the form of a sidebar that's docked to the right of your screen. It can do pretty much everything Bing Chat can already do, with a few additional experiences tailored to Windows. Such commands include:
- “Change to dark mode.”
- “Turn on do not disturb.”
- “Take a screenshot”
- "Summarize this website" (Active tab in Microsoft Edge)
- “Write a story about a dog who lives on the moon.”
- “Make me a picture of a serene koi fishpond with lily pads.”
Microsoft says this first Windows Copilot preview is missing a few things that were unveiled last month, including third-party support. Additionally, Microsoft says the feature is rolling out in waves, so not all users in the Insider Dev Channel will see Windows Copilot right away (update: Microsoft has since shipped Windows 365 Copilot to all Dev Channel Insiders).
The feature does require that Microsoft Edge is updated to version 115 or higher, which should have already happened for Insiders in the Dev Channel. This is because Windows Copilot is an extension of Microsoft Edge, using WebView2 to display the chat window inside Windows Copilot sidebar.
The build rolling out with Windows Copilot also includes lots of other features too. Be sure to check out the full changelog.
We have a hands-on video showing off Windows Copilot from this build of Windows 11.
