الوسم: Windows 11

The Copilot desktop application can be a useful resource for answering queries, creating content, and boosting productivity. Microsoft believes it’s so beneficial that they have made their AI more user-friendly with the Ask Copilot feature. Personally, I see it differently, so I’ve chosen to disable it.

What Is “Ask Copilot” on Windows?

When you right-click on certain files, such as text documents or images, you’ll find an option for Ask Copilot in the context menu.

Clicking this option will launch the Copilot desktop app with the chosen file uploaded and ready for your inquiries. For example, you can ask for summaries or conduct various types of file analysis that Copilot offers. It is designed to save you time by allowing quick information retrieval, ultimately making your interaction with files more efficient.

How to Disable “Ask Copilot” on Windows

If you’d like to remove the Ask Copilot option from your context menu, you’ll need to adjust the Windows Registry. Before doing so, it’s crucial to learn how to back up and restore the Registry in case anything goes wrong.

To disable the Ask Copilot feature, create a registry file. Open Notepad and copy the text below:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Shell Extensions\\Blocked]
"{CB3B0003-8088-4EDE-8769-8B354AB2FF8C}"="Ask Copilot"

Save the file somewhere on your computer with a .REG extension, naming it something like disable-ask-copilot-context-menu.reg.

Next, double-click the file and confirm with Yes when prompted to make changes to the registry. Restart your computer to see the Ask Copilot option removed from the context menu.

Should You Disable “Ask Copilot”?

There are multiple reasons I find the Ask Copilot feature unnecessary; primarily, I don’t see how it enhances my productivity. For instance, I prefer using ChatGPT for file summaries, as it offers more functionality than Copilot.

Additionally, my workflow is predominantly online-based, meaning I rarely use the Copilot desktop app that the Ask Copilot option launches. Even if I do need to analyze a file, I can effortlessly drag and drop it onto the web version of Copilot (the desktop app lacks this feature). Moreover, ChatGPT can analyze certain file types that Copilot cannot, such as code files (HTML, JS, JAVA, and CPP), as well as audio and video files for basic transcriptions.

Furthermore, I find Copilot to be better integrated within Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Notepad, and the Photos app, making it more useful than the standalone desktop app accessed via the Ask Copilot option. Unless more features are added, this particular functionality feels redundant.

I also recommend disabling it due to the extra clutter it adds to the context menu. Many installed programs already contribute unnecessary items to this menu, causing it to become congested and harder to navigate quickly. Adding more options only complicates the already lengthy list.

Another point to consider is that this seems like a forced inclusion. Microsoft appears to be pushing users towards Copilot in every possible way—from pinning it to the Taskbar to making it challenging to disable.

While I don’t favor this feature, I’m not claiming it’s entirely without value. For those who enjoy using Copilot and frequently use the desktop app, it might be beneficial to keep. However, for someone like me, it serves no purpose.

If you agree, disabling it is a simple and safe option. You might also want to completely remove Copilot from Windows if you find it unnecessary.

Microsoft is continuously refining Click to Do, a feature in Windows 11 powered by AI that helps users complete tasks more efficiently by recognizing text and images on their screens. However, some of its latest features could use a bit more development before they’re genuinely beneficial.

Using Copilot with Click to Do

By default, Click to Do scans your screen to let you select the text or image you want to focus on. With Ask Copilot, Microsoft is expanding the capabilities of Click to Do.

When you highlight text or images, you can now select “Ask Copilot” from the menu. This sends your selected content to the Copilot app, where you can refine the prompt before asking Copilot any questions related to your work.

Essentially, Ask Copilot represents Microsoft’s effort to enhance the AI features available within the Windows 11 ecosystem. It’s designed to smooth the path to using Copilot, improving your workflow by integrating AI support into your current activities.

At first glance, integrating Copilot into Click to Do seems like a logical step. Yet, in practice, it doesn’t reach the full potential one might hope for.

An Overabundance of Options

Click to Do is experiencing a productivity paradox: it tries to offer so many features that it ultimately overwhelms users. While versatility is generally a plus, having too many options creates a confusing experience.

You are now faced with navigating a complex interface filled with choice points and dropdown menus. Additionally, you have two further options in Ask Copilot—Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Unfortunately, the latter does very little.

Other options include Search the web, which is already supported by Bing through Copilot. Plus, there’s the Copy function, allowing you to copy content directly into the Copilot app, and an Open with option where you can choose the Copilot app to access the highlighted content. While the extensive list of proposed actions offers various possibilities, the sheer number of choices leads to a cluttered experience rather than a streamlined one.

Ideally, AI should simplify tasks. Yet, in its current form, Ask Copilot complicates an interface that’s already overloaded with options. It’s important to note that the feature is still in preview, and Microsoft may adjust it based on feedback from Windows Insiders.

It’s Not That Useful Right Now

Beyond the issues with usability and interface clutter, a crucial question remains: Does Ask Copilot genuinely provide any real value?

I tested Ask Copilot after selecting an image on a website. It merely transferred the image to the prompt box in the Copilot app and awaited my input for the prompt. In contrast, other Click to Do features—like background blurring, object erasing in the Photos app, or background removal in Paint—seem to be more actionable, aside from the Bing visual search functionality.

As it stands, the integration feels lackluster. It only transfers selected content to the prompt box in the Copilot app, lacking the depth and context necessary for true usefulness. Copilot doesn’t consider where the content is coming from or the nuances of your workflow—it acts like a simple shortcut.

It’s clear that Microsoft is eager to integrate Copilot throughout its ecosystem, which makes sense given the objective of having AI readily available in all Windows experiences. While the vision for AI-enhanced productivity is exciting, the present implementations leave much to be desired. This is unfortunate, as the underlying idea has real potential.

Microsoft has successfully implemented this concept in other areas of Windows. For instance, the Edge browser features built-in Copilot capabilities that allow for smarter browsing with AI assistance. While reading articles, watching videos, or browsing websites, you can engage with Copilot and receive quick, relevant answers without leaving the page.

Moreover, numerous Copilot features are available in Microsoft 365 apps, enabling you to utilize Copilot as a writing assistant in Word or get help in PowerPoint for effective presentations.

This doesn’t mean the concept should be discarded. Instead of overwhelming users with an array of random actions, Ask Copilot could thrive in a more focused, streamlined environment that facilitates real productivity enhancements. Until meaningful improvements are made, however, this feature feels more cumbersome than beneficial.

Microsoft introduced many of its advanced AI capabilities with the launch of Copilot+ PCs, specifically those utilizing the Snapdragon X chipsets. This left users of Copilot+ PCs equipped with Intel and AMD processors out of the loop. However, the tech giant plans to broaden the availability of its sophisticated AI features, beginning with select PCs powered by Intel and AMD chipsets.

AI Features for Copilot+ Are on the Way to Intel and AMD PCs

According to a blog post from Microsoft, exclusive AI features for Copilot+ PCs, such as Live Captions, Cocreater, and more, will soon be accessible on all Copilot+ devices that use AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and Snapdragon X series processors.

Here’s a complete rundown of the features:

• Live Captions: Provides real-time translations into English for audio and video content during media playback, podcasts, or virtual meetings.
• Voice Access: Allows users to communicate with their computers using a more natural and flexible language.
• Cocreator in Paint: Enables users to create or edit images in Paint using a combination of hand-drawn elements and text prompts.
• Restyle Image and Image Creator in Photos: Introduces AI-driven editing capabilities in the Windows Photos app, utilizing user prompts.

Keep in mind that these features are primarily optimized for English inputs and will require a Microsoft account along with an internet connection. Certain functionalities may also necessitate a subscription to Microsoft 365.

Microsoft first launched its Copilot+ PCs in May 2024, touting them as the fastest and most intelligent Windows PCs to date. The focus on Snapdragon’s X Elite processors also reflected Microsoft’s ambition for Windows on ARM, while positioning itself competitively against Apple’s M-series chips.

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To qualify as Copilot+ PCs, systems must deliver at least 40 TOPs (trillion operations per second) through a dedicated NPU and a minimum of 16 GB of RAM. Microsoft has collaborated with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm for the initial rollouts, but other manufacturers like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung are also striving to produce PCs that meet these specifications.

What’s the Timeline for These Features?

Currently, there’s no specific schedule for the features’ release. Microsoft has indicated that they will gradually be rolled out throughout April 2025, via the Windows controlled feature rollout (CFR). Some of these features are already accessible through the March 2025 non-security preview update, which follows the November 2024 non-security preview update.

If you want to increase your chances of getting the features sooner, make sure to enable the Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available option within your Windows Update settings. After that, check for updates to download and install the March non-security preview release as detailed by Microsoft. Ensure your Microsoft Paint and Photos apps are updated to their latest versions to access the new AI functionalities.

With Microsoft’s aggressive push for AI, you likely won’t have to wait long to see these features in action—provided you have a compatible PC.