Microsoft has rolled out a variety of innovative AI features in Windows 11. Among them is Copilot, but there are also some exciting AI enhancements integrated within the built-in applications. While I could discuss them at length, here are my top picks.
As expected, Microsoft Copilot stands out as a central component of the AI-driven experiences in the Microsoft ecosystem. More than just a chatbot, it functions like a smart assistant right on your taskbar. You can either click the Copilot icon on the taskbar or simply press Windows + C to start using it.
Are you looking to design an illustration for your LinkedIn post? Copilot can produce that in just a few seconds. Need to rewrite an email with a more polished tone? Copilot is ready to assist.
However, Copilot offers more than the typical generative AI capabilities we’ve come to expect from services like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. It works in conjunction with other Windows features and applications, including Microsoft Edge, and even manages aspects of your PC experience.
If you want to concentrate, you can instruct Copilot to “activate a focus session” to mute notifications and enhance your workspace. Alternatively, say “turn off dark mode” to quickly toggle off the dark theme of your system.
As its name suggests, Copilot serves as a personal productivity ally equipped with a range of tools. It’s the kind of assistant Cortana aimed to be years ago.
Say goodbye to tedious video editing! Microsoft’s Clipchamp app now features an AI-driven auto composition tool that’s truly transformative. To get started, head over to Clipchamp and choose the Create a video with AI option available on the Home tab.
This feature allows you to quickly generate videos from your photos and videos within seconds. I uploaded my media, selected a style (or let the AI choose), and just like that, Clipchamp automatically identified the best moments, trimmed the clips, added transitions, and even included suitable background music.
What I appreciate about it is that it’s not a generic solution. You can customize the video length and aspect ratio while requesting the app to produce multiple versions. This way, you retain creative control without sacrificing time.
The Auto Compose feature makes visually appealing videos accessible to everyone, regardless of editing expertise. While it may not achieve professional-level editing, it’s fantastic for dynamic travel vlogs or sentimental family montages—something my Instagram likes can attest to.
A standout, yet underrated AI tool in Windows 11 is its Optical Character Recognition (OCR) feature, which simplifies text extraction from images remarkably well. Its accuracy is commendable!
Forget relying on third-party applications; you can now take a screenshot with the Snipping Tool, and the built-in OCR will automatically detect any text within the image.
To use it, simply press Windows + Shift + S to pull up the snipping overlay, select the area containing the text you want to copy, then click on the Snipping Tool notification. In the preview window, hit the Text actions button (next to the Crop tool) and select Copy all text.
This feature comes in handy! Do you need to grab a quote from an image or a digital article that doesn’t allow text selection? Just snip the image and paste the text wherever you need it. It even works with handwritten notes, making it a terrific tool for digitizing my chaotic handwriting.
The Image Creator in Microsoft Paint is a valuable AI tool that can boost your creativity by generating impressive images based on textual descriptions.
Currently, the Image Creator feature is available only in the US, France, UK, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Germany. At this time, only English is supported for text prompts.
To use the Image Creator, open Paint and click the Image Creator icon in the toolbar to access the side panel. In the text box, describe the image you’d like to create. You can also select a specific art style, such as charcoal, anime, or watercolor. Powered by DALL-E, the Image Creator generates a variety of images based on your description.
This is an excellent feature for those who frequently need images but may not possess advanced design skills. Need a quick image for a presentation or even a social media post? The Image Creator can provide just what you need. Personally, I rely on it for illustrations for my blog.
Image Creator opens the door to AI-generated images for everyone. Although there are numerous other generative AI services, the seamless integration of AI into a classic program like Paint showcases how Windows 11 harmonizes AI with familiar PC tasks.
Microsoft has made impressive strides in incorporating AI features into Windows 11. I believe that we’re only just beginning to see the evolution of this technology, with even more AI-powered features set to enhance our daily creative and productivity tasks.
