At this week’s CES, the biggest technology trade show in the world, artificial intelligence is already pervasive. CNET is on the ground, covering the ins and outs of the event before its official start. Microsoft said in the lead-up to the significant AI focus that it will be releasing a new, dedicated key for its AI tool, Copilot, on Windows 11 laptops and PCs.
Users of Windows 11 can access Microsoft’s generative AI tool, which can assist with everything from writing a short narrative, planning a trip or dinner, and shopping for specific things, all with the touch of a handy keyboard button.
The Copilot AI key is not only the largest update to a Windows keyboard in nearly thirty years, but it also acts as a physical entry point to the Copilot service, which assists users with tasks like document summarization, music recommendations, and AI chatbot or search engine queries. With this action, Microsoft is taking a step toward reaching over a billion Windows users with its AI services.
“We believe it will empower people to participate in the AI transformation more easily,” Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer, said Thursday. “The new key will invoke the Copilot in Windows experience to make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day to day.”
Microsoft is investing $10 billion in ChatGPT producer OpenAI. In a dramatic turn of events that saw OpenAI CEO and co-founder Sam Altman temporarily removed by the company’s own board, Microsoft CEO Sundar Pichai hired Altman and other key personnel almost away. Pichai’s prompt decision highlights Microsoft’s significant stake on AI chatbots and search through Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat, even if Altman has subsequently been restored at OpenAI. Over the past year, Microsoft has integrated generative AI into some of its most significant products, such as Windows 11 and the Bing search engine. Large language models are necessary for Copilot, especially Open AI’s GPT-4.
Which laptops and PCs running Windows 11 will make use of the Copilot keyboard key?
On certain keyboards, the menu or right control keys will be replaced with the Copilot key, which will be located to the right of the space bar and activate Microsoft Copilot.
In the days preceding CES this week, as well as during the technology convention itself, Microsoft’s partners will begin shipping Windows 11 laptops and PCs with the new button. The new key is part of the soon-to-be released series of Dell XPS laptops, which CNET has already seen.
Microsoft states that a broader rollout, which will include future Surface devices, is anticipated in late February or early spring. The Copilot button will eventually be a necessary function.
The new key will launch Windows Search for Windows users who do not have Copilot activated or who reside in a nation where Copilot is not available. Currently, Windows users can launch Copilot by using the Windows key + C.
“This [new button] will not only simplify people’s computing experience but also amplify it, making 2024 the year of the AI PC,” Mehdi stated.