Microsoft Adds Free AI Features to Windows 11 Notepad for Copilot+ PCs

Windows Notepad gets unnecessary AI infusion

Copilot+ PC users can run the AI models locally. Others may need a subscription. Microsoft is continuing to shovel AI functionality into its Notepad application, with Windows Insiders the first test subjects. The latest update makes AI features like Summarize, Write, and Rewrite available on Copilot+ PCs without requiring a subscription. Since the update, users with Copilot+ PCs will be able to dispense with the subscription requirement and choose to run local models rather than cloud-based ones. Those with non-Copilot+ PCs that want a piece of the AI action, accessed via a right-click in Notepad, will need to subscribe. Notepad was the simplest of text editors and has been a part of Windows for decades. In recent years, Microsoft has tinkered with the application, loading it with AI features that users did not demand but received anyway. Those features can be turned off in Notepad's settings. Away from Notepad, Microsoft has also added the ability to save project files to Paint and an opacity slider - again, overkill for something that started life as a bitmap botherer. It also added quick markup to the Snipping tool to allow users to make image edits before finalizing a screenshot. Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs are solutions looking for a problem. It will become increasingly difficult to find hardware that isn't AI-enabled in the coming years, but having an essential application that requires AI hardware would certainly ease the transition. However, enabling Notepad to perform AI tasks such as summarizing, rewriting, or writing text using local models rather than requiring a cloud subscription isn't it. ®

Notepad gets free AI features on Copilot+ PCs with Windows 11

Microsoft is adding free AI-powered text writing capabilities to Notepad for customers with Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11. Currently, this change is being rolled out to Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels, who have upgraded to Notepad version 11.2508.28.0. The AI-powered text summarization, text rewriting, and text generation features introduced for Windows 11 users over the last year are normally available with Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Copilot Pro subscriptions. The features will only work exclusively to generate or manipulate English content, and customers will have the option to switch between local and cloud AI models if they have a Microsoft 365 subscription. "Notepad now supports AI features like Summarize, Write, and Rewrite on Copilot+ PCs, with no subscription required. If you have a subscription, you can seamlessly switch between local and cloud models based on your needs," said Dave Grochocki, Principal Group Product Manager for Windows Inbox Apps. "If you're not signed in or don't have a subscription, you can use the local model to accomplish your tasks. For now, these features support English only, making premium AI more accessible and flexible for everyone." However, users who don't want these new AI options can disable them from the settings or uninstall the Windows Notepad app to use the built-in notepad.exe program. On Wednesday, Grochocki also announced that the Paint app is getting support for Photoshop-like project files and an opacity slider for the Pencil and Brush tools after upgrading to version 11.2508.361.0. Snipping Tool version 11.2508.24.0 also introduces a "Quick markup" feature, which enables faster screenshot annotation before saving.