Recall & AI Features Launch on Windows: Microsoft Rolls Out Next-Gen PC Experience

Almost a year after its initial announcement, Microsoft is finally making its highly anticipated, and somewhat controversial, Recall feature generally available on Copilot+ PCs. This launch isn't happening in isolation – it's accompanied by a preview of the much-discussed Click To Do contextual shortcuts and a revamped, AI-powered Windows Search. It's a big moment, promising a genuinely new way to interact with your computer.

Rolling Out Gradually

These updates will arrive as part of the April 2025 Windows non-security preview update, but don’t expect everyone to get them at once. Microsoft is employing a "controlled feature rollout," meaning the features will be released in stages. If you’re eager to get your hands on them right now, you can head to Settings > Windows Update and enable "Get the latest updates as soon as they're available." Then, simply checking for updates should kickstart the installation process. It's a bit of a waiting game, but an exciting one!

It’s worth noting that both Recall and Click to Do are currently labeled as “preview” experiences, similar to how Apple labels its Intelligence features as "beta" and Google some of its Gemini models as "experimental." This suggests that Microsoft is still actively refining these features based on user feedback.

Recall: Remembering What You Did

Without a doubt, Recall is grabbing the most attention. This feature is designed to solve a very common problem: trying to remember where you saw something, or what you were working on previously. It achieves this by taking snapshots of your screen activity and storing them locally on your device. You can then search through these snapshots to quickly find past content. Think of it as a digital memory for your computer.

Microsoft has made a crucial decision to make Recall an opt-in experience. You’ll need to actively choose to enable it during the setup process. If you don’t, the screenshots won’t be captured. And if you change your mind later, you can easily remove Recall by searching for "Turn Windows features on or off" in the taskbar. However, Microsoft notes that even after removal, temporary copies of files might remain on your system for a period of time.

A History of Concern

Recall hasn't had a smooth journey. Since its initial announcement alongside Copilot+ PCs last May, it faced several delays due to serious concerns raised by the security community. The worry was that it represented a significant privacy risk. Initial testing by some even showed it capturing sensitive information despite the presence of filters. It's a valid concern – nobody wants their passwords or confidential documents constantly screenshotting their screen!

Microsoft has listened to this feedback and implemented new security measures. Snapshots are now encrypted using the device's Trust Platform Module, and Windows Hello is used for authorization to change settings. You can also filter out specific apps or websites within supported browsers, control how long Recall content is retained, and delete snapshots from particular apps, websites, or timeframes. It's clear that Microsoft has taken the privacy concerns seriously and is working to address them.

Previously limited to Windows Insiders, Recall is now expanding its reach to Copilot+ PCs. The real test will be seeing how many people ultimately embrace the feature after the initial controversy.

Click to Do: Contextual Shortcuts

Click to Do, first previewed last fall with Windows 11 24H2, offers a different kind of convenience. It uses a combination of the Windows key + Click (or a swipe right on a touchscreen) to reveal a contextual menu of relevant AI actions. For instance, highlighting text might give you the option to summarize it, while selecting an image could let you adjust or remove elements. It's all about streamlining your workflow with smart suggestions.

Beyond the shortcut, you’ll also find a Click to Do icon in Start, Print Screen, and the Snipping Tool for easy access. However, it's not fully available everywhere just yet. Image actions are live on all Copilot+ PCs, but text actions are currently only supported on Qualcomm Snapdragon devices. AMD Ryzen and Intel Core Ultra support is coming "in the next few months."

Improved Windows Search: Natural Language Queries

Say goodbye to struggling to remember exact file names! The enhanced Windows search on Copilot+ PCs lets you use natural language to describe what you’re seeking. This means you can simply type or speak what you need, and Windows will understand. The power behind this comes from a 40+ TOPS NPU which allows this to run locally and privately.

This feature is integrated into existing Windows Search, Settings, and File Explorer. It's a simple but impactful change that promises to make finding files and settings much more intuitive.

Will These Features Drive PC Sales?

Microsoft is positioning these new features, especially Recall, as key differentiators for Copilot+ PCs. These PCs come with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V series, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X, Plus, and Elite processors. This push comes as Microsoft prepares to end support for Windows 10 on October 14th, potentially encouraging users to upgrade.

The question, though, is whether AI-exclusive features are enough to significantly boost PC sales. So far, uptake based solely on AI has been relatively slow. Only time will tell if these changes are enough to convince more users to make the jump.

Further Information

Here's a quick summary of what's available on Copilot+ PCs:

• Performance: Up to 13% faster performance than the MacBook Air M4 among top performing devices
• Battery Life: Up to 22 hours of video playback
• Security: The most secure Windows PCs ever built