Windows Copilot is about to become more than a glorified shortcut to Bing Chat

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Windows Copilot on Windows 11 won't be so limited for long.

Windows Copilot
(Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft announced a new AI assistant called Windows Copilot earlier this year.
  • Windows Copilot is powered by Bing Chat and can be brought up at any time on the Windows 11 desktop.
  • The new AI assistant has been in testing among Insiders for over a month, but integration with Windows 11 has been limited to date.
  • A savvy Twitter user spotted a new set of features that appear to be on the way to Windows Copilot, including launching apps.

Windows Copilot is a new AI assistant that's on the way to Windows 11. The tool is powered by Bing Chat and allows you to access the chatbot directly from your desktop. Microsoft is also working on ways to integrate Windows Copilot with Windows 11, giving you control over your PC through the assistant. Microsoft announced Windows Copilot earlier this year and rolled it out to Insiders near the end of June.

Even in its preview state, Windows Copilot can already perform certain tasks on your PC. For example, it can swap your system to dark mode, enable do not disturb mode, and take a screenshot. But when it comes to integrating with Windows 11, the tool is rather limited. It's essentially Bing Chat that can be summoned to your desktop plus a few handy add-ons.

The feature set of Windows Copilot is set to expand, and we appear to have a glimpse of what's in store. Windows sleuth Xeno, known on X (formerly Twitter) as @XenoPanther, spotted some new functionality for Windows Copilot in a Dev Channel build of Windows 11. Based on Xeno's findings, Windows Copilot will soon be able to launch apps, perform task manager actions, open settings, and be used to provide feedback to Microsoft.

Microsoft made it clear from the start that Windows Copilot would gain more functionality over time. But it's nice to see a specific set of features that could make their way to Insiders soon. Xeno spotted the options in Windows 11 Build 23516, which rolled out to the Dev Channel two days ago. That could mean that Insiders will be able to test new integrations between Windows Copilot and Windows 11 in the near future.

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Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a news writer and apps editor for Windows Central with 11+ years of experience. A Nottingham Trent journalism graduate, Sean has covered the industry’s arc from the Lumia era to the launch of Windows 11 and generative AI. Having started at Thrifter, he uses his expertise in price tracking to help readers find genuine hardware value.

Beyond tech news, Sean is a UK sports media pioneer. In 2017, he became one of the first to stream via smartphone and is an expert in AP Capture systems. A tech-forward coach, he was named 2024 BAFA Youth Coach of the Year. He is focused on using technology—from AI to Clipchamp—to gain a practical edge.