Microsoft is set to introduce a significant overhaul of the Windows 11 Start menu and a suite of new AI features within the next month, initially available to Windows Insiders using Snapdragon X Copilot Plus devices, including the recently launched Surface models. The redesigned Start menu, which surfaced in an early preview last month, boasts a more spacious layout that facilitates easier navigation through an organized list of all applications.
The revamped Start menu aims to enhance its aesthetic appeal, particularly on larger displays. It will feature a new panel designed for phone integration, providing users with immediate access to recent contacts, messages, calls, battery status, and other information synced between their iPhone or Android device.
In addition to the Start menu enhancements, Windows 11 will incorporate a range of new AI functionalities. Users can expect to see an AI agent integrated within the Windows settings menu, new Click to Do functionalities for managing text and images, AI-powered editing tools in Paint, Photos, and the Snipping Tool, a visual search feature called Copilot Vision, improved search capabilities within Windows, comprehensive image descriptions for the Narrator, AI writing assistance in Notepad, and new AI-driven functionalities within File Explorer. According to Microsoft’s blog, these innovations aim to enhance user experience, making it more intuitive and accessible.
The AI will allow users to directly ask for modifications to their Windows settings or seek troubleshooting advice for various issues, such as adjusting the mouse cursor size. An example displayed by Microsoft indicates a cautionary note stating, “Recommendations are AI-generated and may be incorrect,” highlighting a need for careful consideration given the potential impact of the suggested changes, such as initiating a factory reset.
File Explorer will also see improvements, with new shortcut options that allow users to perform tasks such as editing images or generating summaries without needing to open files. For users of Microsoft’s image editing tools, features like the new Relight in Photos, which adds up to three light sources to an image, will be available. Meanwhile, Paint will introduce a content-aware selection tool that enables tasks like moving and erasing features, as well as creating digital stickers based on text prompts. The Snipping Tool will receive a Perfect Screenshot feature that can intelligently crop images to focus on key content, along with functionalities for text extraction from images and an eyedropper tool for color sampling.
The forthcoming updates targeting users on Windows for Arm devices with Snapdragon X processors will be the first to benefit from these enhancements, while those utilizing Intel and AMD processors can expect to receive the updates soon after.
Overall, while the new AI functionalities may not be the highlight for all users, many are eager for the anticipated spacious Start menu.
