Soon, Notepad will automatically summarize your notes with artificial intelligence.

Microsoft Notepad, one of the most iconic tools on Windows, is getting a modernization with the addition of a new AI-powered feature. Although it has traditionally been considered basic software, where text is written in plain format without any type of formatting or word processing features, the company has begun testing a function that allows users to summarize parts of text documents.

This new functionality is part of version 11.2501.29.0 of Notepad, which is currently being rolled out to users enrolled in Microsoft’s early access program, known as Windows Insiders. The process is quite simple: the user can select a block of text, right-click, and choose the "Summarize" option, or use the shortcut Ctrl + M. This will generate an AI-created summary of the selected text, which can be adjusted in length according to the user’s preferences. If you prefer not to use this feature, it can be disabled in the application’s settings. However, as with other AI features in Windows 11, it is necessary to be logged in with a personal Microsoft account to access the summarization feature.

This function complements the "Rewrite" option introduced last year, which allows users to modify a sentence or a fragment of text to change its length, tone, or format. With the Summary and Rewrite tools, users can easily adapt their text documents to delve deeper or simplify content as needed, adjusting the output to match the tone or style they are seeking in their writing.

In addition to the summary feature, this update also includes a new "Recent Files" option in the file menu, making it easier to access recently used or closed documents, allowing users to pick up their writing from where they left off. Users who prefer not to have this list visible can also disable it in the application’s settings.