A major shift is coming to Windows 11 laptops and PCs in 2024, as Microsoft introduces its first new keyboard key in 30 years: the AI-powered Copilot key.
This move aligns with the company’s vision for “the year of the AI PC” and aims to seamlessly integrate AI capabilities into daily workflows.
Microsoft Pushes AI Integration on Windows 11 Laptops with Dedicated Copilot Key
For the uninitiated, Copilot is an AI-powered chatbot built on OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology and launched in February 2023. It leverages large language models (LLMs) trained on data from the Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 apps.
In a recent blog post, Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi, Executive Vice President and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, announced the rollout of the Copilot key on new Windows 11 machines starting this year.
This key, Mehdi emphasizes, represents a significant step towards a future where AI is effortlessly woven into the Windows experience, from software to hardware. Ultimately, the Copilot key is designed to make accessing AI assistance as easy as hitting a button.
Drawing a parallel to the introduction of the iconic Windows key in 1994, Mehdi stated, “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.”
Conveniently located next to the ALT key on the right side of the keyboard (specific placement may vary depending on manufacturer and market), the Copilot key grants users instant access to a powerful AI assistant.
Just a single press launches the built-in Windows Copilot, featuring a ChatGPT-like chatbot capable of:
- Answering questions and providing information
- Generating documents, emails, and presentations
- Adding content to existing documents
- Summarizing texts
- And much more
The coming days leading up to CES 2024 (Jan 9–12) in Las Vegas will see Microsoft showcasing the Copilot key on a range of new Windows 11 laptops from its partner brands. Look for these AI-powered devices to hit shelves later this month through Spring, including upcoming Surface models.
