Microsoft Pushes Voice Controls With New Copilot Features in Windows 11
Put your mouse and keyboard aside—Microsoft wants you to start talking to your PC.
The company has announced a major update to its Copilot AI assistant, emphasizing that voice interactions could, in many cases, be a faster and more natural way to engage with your computer than traditional typing and clicking.
Although voice assistants aren’t new—remember Cortana?—Microsoft says Copilot’s latest upgrades significantly improve how well it can interpret natural language and execute complex commands. These enhancements are being rolled out to all Windows 11 PCs, not just those with Copilot+ hardware.
These improvements bring the company closer to realizing the concept of a true “AI PC.” Unlike traditional chatbots, Copilot integrates across the operating system, web browser, Microsoft applications, and even some third-party software via its new “Connector” capability.
Its next stage of evolution—where AI isn’t just a chatbot, but seamlessly embedded in the hundreds of millions of experiences people use every day. To make interactions easier, Microsoft is introducing “Hey, Copilot” as the default wake phrase for all Windows 11 systems. Users can also say “goodbye” to end a conversation naturally. Additionally, a new “Ask Copilot” box is being added to the taskbar to make the assistant more visible and accessible.
One of the most notable additions is Copilot Actions, a feature that allows the assistant to complete tasks for you. Initially designed for the web—where it could, for example, book dinner reservations or purchase a book—Copilot Actions is now expanding to local files.
Through Copilot Labs, Windows Insiders will soon be able to test this functionality, letting Copilot sort through photos, extract data from PDFs, or perform bulk edits on documents. It can even manage both desktop and web applications simultaneously, provided you grant permission.
Despite the emphasis on voice, Microsoft admits the keyboard and mouse aren’t going anywhere. During a demonstration, some Copilot voice functions struggled in a noisy restaurant environment—one reason Microsoft is adding text-based interaction to Copilot Vision. This feature allows the AI to “see” what’s on your screen and respond accordingly. Soon, users will be able to type questions instead of speaking them.
Microsoft is highlighting these features at a time when about 40% of Windows users still rely on the now-unsupported Windows 10. Analysts say the stagnant PC market indicates that many consumers don’t feel compelled to upgrade—something Microsoft hopes Copilot will change.
Still, there are trade-offs. Voice commands can be overheard, potentially revealing private information, and they can contribute to background noise if many users start talking to their devices at once. Copilot also collects some contextual data from your PC to function, but Microsoft says, “Once the Copilot Vision session ends, all images, audio, and context are deleted.”
There’s also the ongoing concern of generative AI “hallucinations.” Microsoft acknowledges that Copilot Actions might sometimes produce incorrect results or misinterpret embedded text—so-called “prompt injection” attacks—as executable commands.
To address this, Microsoft is requiring users to opt in before using Copilot’s more advanced abilities.
Newer Articles
- Galaxy S26 Rumors: What to Expect From Samsung’s Next Flagship
- Binance Casino: The Intersection of Crypto and iGaming
- How to Choose a Reliable Forex Broker: The Key Criteria
