November 6, 2024 at 03:58PM
Microsoft is testing AI-powered features for Notepad and Paint on Windows 11. Notepad introduces a “Rewrite” tool for content editing, while Paint offers generative fill and erase functionalities. These updates aim to enhance user experience, building on previous AI tools like Cocreator powered by OpenAI’s DALL-E.
### Meeting Takeaways
1. **AI Testing Initiatives**: Microsoft is testing AI-powered features for Notepad and Paint, enhancing their capabilities four decades after their initial release in the 1980s.
2. **Availability**: The new tools are available to Windows 11 Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels who have upgraded to specific versions of Paint and Notepad:
– Paint version: 11.2410.28.0
– Notepad version: 11.2410.15.0
3. **Paint Features**:
– **Generative Fill**: Users can make edits and additions to images by providing simple text prompts, while the AI maintains the existing art style.
– **Generative Erase**: This tool allows users to remove unwanted objects from an image, automatically filling in the space to make it appear as if the object was never there.
– **Cocreator**: Introduced in September 2023, this feature uses OpenAI’s DALL-E model for text-to-image generation alongside the new tools.
4. **Notepad Features**:
– **Rewrite Tool** (previously CoWriter): This AI-driven feature rewrites text, allowing users to rephrase sentences, adjust tone, and modify content length to suit their preferences.
– Available for preview to users in the US, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany, with Microsoft account sign-in required.
5. **Recent Notepad Updates**: Since 2018, Notepad has undergone modernization, enhancing its functionality to compete with other text editors. Key updates include:
– Built-in character counter (December 2023)
– Spell check and autocorrect (July 2023)
– Features such as wrap-around find and replace, improved compatibility, tabs, text zoom, UTF-8 support, autosaving, and line number displays.
6. **Strategic Goals**: The introduction of AI functionalities is part of Microsoft’s broader initiative to integrate advanced features across its software suite, modernizing classic applications to remain competitive.
### Action Items
– Monitor user feedback on AI features from Windows Insiders.
– Prepare communications for broader rollout plans based on testing outcomes.
– Explore further enhancements and integrations for both Notepad and Paint to keep pace with user demands and competition.