Microsoft is reportedly planning to use its new Copilot AI to replace the start button in Windows 12, which would be a substantial system redesign.
The change seeks to include a more artificial intelligence-centric user experience for the company's consumers. The new Copilot AI is already a preview version in Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update.
Microsoft's New Copilot AI
Windows 12, the next major operating system version, is expected to launch sometime next year. The company has also given hints on potential new features since late last year.
Artificial intelligence will have a bigger role as Microsoft is already collaborating with OpenAI on the Copilot feature. However, some design changes could still be made that revolve around AI-based interactions.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella suggested this type of change in remarks during the Snapdragon X Elite presentation on Oct. 24. The company is looking to be at the forefront of the AI movement, starting with extensive software support integrated right into its hero product, as per NoteBookCheck.
The latest version of Windows 11 already supports a preview for the new Copilot AI but still performs relatively sluggishly as it is still in its beta state. However, with better hardware support coming on processors such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite or AMD's Hawk Point, the AI interactions on Windows 12 could feel much smoother.
Nadella added that the upcoming operating system could change the user experience, with Copilot AI as the new start button. He explained that the new feature will orchestrate all users' app experiences.
For example, users can go there and express their intent and the Copilot AI either navigates them to an application or it brings the application to the Copilot. This would help them learn, query, and create.
Nadella believes that Copilot AI is a richer way of asking Windows to help users do what they want instead of searching for a list of apps. However, according to PCWorld, some are still skeptical of how the new AI feature could completely replace the start button.
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Replacing Windows 12's Start Button
The Microsoft CEO also highlighted the significance of artificial intelligence as the cornerstone of the future computing experience. However, the idea that the Copilot AI feature will replace the start button has raised questions regarding the direction in which the future iterations of the operating system are heading.
Furthermore, industry experts look forward to seeing how the tech giant's AI-first approach will materialize in the upcoming Windows 12. They also look forward to seeing the speculated integration of Copilot AI as the new start button and how it would redefine user habits and interactions within the operating system itself, said ONMSFT.
In announcing Copilot AI, Microsoft said it was taking the next step to unify various capabilities into a single experience. The company called the feature an everyday AI companion that will uniquely incorporate the context and intelligence of the web, work data, and what users do on their PCs.
