Microsoft begins testing AI-powered search in Windows.
Artificial intelligence is integrated into local file searching on computers with Copilot Plus.
Microsoft is testing a new AI-powered search feature in a recent development version for Windows 11 Insider testers. This new feature, announced in October, uses a semantic index that allows users to search for local files using more everyday language. Like other AI services from Microsoft, a Copilot Plus PC is required to access this functionality.
The search can be used in various areas, such as the search boxes in Settings, File Explorer, or the taskbar, and does not require an internet connection thanks to the NPU chips present in Copilot Plus computers. Currently, the AI search is limited to Windows settings and files in image and text formats, including JPEG, PNG, PDF, TXT, and XLS.
Microsoft clarifies that this search will only work for files in locations that the user has chosen to index. There are options to adjust these locations in Settings > Privacy and Security > Search in Windows, or users can enable the "Enhanced" option to index the entire system. The company also mentioned that eventually the feature will include cloud data, such as files stored in OneDrive.
The AI-based search will be gradually rolled out to Windows Insider users with Snapdragon-based Copilot+ PCs, with support for Intel or AMD Copilot Plus computers to be added later. This functionality will be compatible with machines configured in languages such as Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.
In addition to the new search feature, this development version includes AI writing tools provided by Click to Do. This feature allows users to select from contextual option menus by holding the Windows key and left-clicking on the screen. Now, when clicking on a snippet of text and choosing the Rewrite option, a "Refine" option is added to correct grammatical errors.
