Signaling a significant milestone, Microsoft introduces a dedicated AI button on its Windows keyboard after three decades, marking the advent of what the company refers to as the "year of the AI PC."
The new AI button, resembling an open loop, will be positioned to the right of the space bar next to the 'alt' key on Windows 11 PC keyboards. Upon activation, it will summon Microsoft's AI assistant known as Copilot.
Copilot offers a range of functionalities, assisting users in tasks such as writing emails, content analysis, image creation and editing, information retrieval, and more. Notably, Copilot has already replaced Cortana, Microsoft's previous personal assistant application.
To utilize the Copilot key, users will need to log in to their Microsoft account. In cases where Copilot is unavailable or not enabled on the device, pressing the key will initiate Windows Search.
The availability of keyboards with the new AI button from Microsoft partners is set to commence from late February through Spring, including on the new Surface devices, Microsoft's touchscreen PCs. A preview of this feature will be offered by some PC manufacturers at CES, the world's largest consumer technology show, next week.
The last time Microsoft modified its PC keyboard was in 1994 when it introduced the Windows key, which opens the start sidebar.
Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's consumer chief marketing officer, expressed the significance of this change, stating, "We see this as another transformative moment in our journey with Windows where Copilot will be the entry point into the world of AI on the PC."
Copilot has been integrated into Bing search, the Edge browser, Microsoft 365 and 365 for Enterprise, and the Windows 11 operating system. This integration enables users to seek assistance from Copilot for tasks that typically involve manual clicks, such as adding a Bluetooth device to a PC.
It's worth noting that users can already access Copilot by clicking on the software application itself, but Microsoft is introducing a hardware shortcut on the keyboard. Copilot relies on AI models from OpenAI, the entity behind ChatGPT, in which Microsoft has invested $13 billion.
In addition to the AI button, Microsoft is bringing AI-powered experiences to various Windows applications, including Paint, Photos, and Clipchamp. These updates reflect the company's ongoing efforts to integrate AI seamlessly into user experiences across its ecosystem.
