Microsoft Unveils AI-Powered Windows Search for Copilot+ PCs
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Microsoft promises smarter, faster search with AI in Windows 11, but don't hold your breath
Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Something to look forward to: Microsoft introduced a proper search feature in its PC operating systems with Windows Vista. Despite undergoing several iterations over the years, Windows search
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Microsoft wants AI to make searching for files a more casual experience
Microsoft is also testing AI-powered 'Click to Do' rewriting tools. Microsoft is testing an AI-powered search feature for Windows 11 that promises to end the days of organizing and naming your files well to find them later. Currently only available to testers with Copilot+ PCs, this new search
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Microsoft opens testing for Windows AI search
Microsoft is testing AI-powered Windows search in a new dev channel build for Windows 11 Insider testers. Announced in October, it uses semantic indexing to let users search for local files using more casual language. Like other Microsoft AI features, you'll need a Copilot Plus PC to use it. The
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Microsoft is bringing big upgrades to Windows Search for Copilot+ PCs -- here's what we know
With the end of Windows 10 in sight, Microsoft is making sweeping AI-focused changes to its portfolio of apps, including adding Copilot enhancements to Microsoft 365 (with a price hike). Now, it's bringing improvements to Windows Search. As announced in the Windows Insider post, Microsoft is
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Windows 11 Is Getting a Better File Search, but Not for All PCs
Microsoft Wants to Simplify the Windows Subsystem for Linux For the most part, Windows' search feature has remained unchanged over the past two decades. That's finally changing, though not everyone will get to try out the improved functionality. Microsoft is significantly upgrading the search
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Microsoft Will Let You Search for Files on Windows 11 by Describing Them
Users can also use such commands to find the particular settings menu Microsoft released a new Windows 11 Insider Preview build on Friday. The new update improves the Windows Search feature on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs by adding support for semantic indexing. These artificial intelligence
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Microsoft begins testing its next-gen smart search on Windows
If you own a Qualcomm-powered Snapdragon Copilot+ PC and are willing to run one of Microsoft's test builds, a new feature is available: smarter semantic search, where you can describe what you're looking for on your PC without the need for specific keywords. Semantic search was first revealed in
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Microsoft Revolutionizes File Search with AI-Powered Copilot+ Updates
AI-Driven File Search Comes to Copilot Plus PCs: A New Era of Windows Search Microsoft has unveiled a groundbreaking AI-enhanced Windows Search feature, tailored exclusively for Copilot Plus PCs. This innovation aims to revolutionize localized file searches by enabling users to effortlessly find
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Microsoft is testing an AI-enhanced search feature for Windows 11 that uses semantic indexing to improve file and settings discovery, initially available only on Copilot+ PCs with specialized NPU hardware.
Microsoft Introduces AI-Powered Search for Windows 11
Microsoft is set to revolutionize the Windows search experience with a new AI-powered feature, currently being tested in the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build. This innovative search functionality, which leverages semantic indexing, promises to make finding files, photos, and settings significantly easier and more intuitive for users
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.How It Works
The new search feature utilizes a "semantic indexing" layer on top of traditional indexing methods. This allows users to search for content using natural language and conversational prompts, rather than relying on exact file names or keywords. For instance, users can search for photos using descriptive phrases like "bridge at sunset" or locate documents with queries such as "Europe trip budget"
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.Hardware Requirements and Availability
The AI-enhanced search is currently exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, which are equipped with specialized Neural Processing Units (NPUs) capable of performing over 40 trillion operations per second. Initially, the feature will be available on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, with support for AMD and Intel-based systems planned for the future
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.Supported File Types and Languages
The new search functionality supports a range of popular file formats, including:
- Documents: .txt, .pdf, .docx, .doc, .rtf, .pptx, .ppt, .xls, .xlsx
- Images: .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .ico
It is currently available in six languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish
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.Offline Functionality and Future Expansions
One of the key advantages of this new search feature is its ability to function offline, thanks to the NPU chips in Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft has also announced plans to extend the AI search capabilities to cloud storage services like OneDrive in the future
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.Related Stories
Additional AI Features
Alongside the improved search functionality, Microsoft is testing other AI-powered tools for Windows 11. This includes the "Click to Do" feature, which offers context-sensitive menus for tasks like rewriting text or correcting grammar when users highlight content and use a specific keyboard-mouse combination
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.Implications for Windows Users
This update represents a significant shift in how users interact with their files and settings on Windows systems. By moving towards a more conversational and intuitive search experience, Microsoft aims to address long-standing criticisms of Windows' search functionality
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. However, the limited availability to Copilot+ PCs may drive demand for these specialized systems, aligning with Microsoft's AI-focused strategy across its product lineup4
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