Microsoft has introduced a giant change coming to Windows 11 PCs that clearly exhibits the path wherein the tech big believes computing will go this decade. As we head into 2024, many new Windows laptops will quickly include a devoted Copilot key on their keyboards that might be used to name up Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant - a software program function that won't make it onto older Windows 10 PCs.

Microsoft likened the brand new synthetic intelligence keyboard key to the introduction of the now-famous Windows key current on keyboards worldwide since 1994.

“Nearly 30 years ago, we introduced the Windows key to the PC keyboard that enabled people all over the world to interact with Windows,” Microsoft Executive Vice President Yusuf Mehdi stated in a blog post. “We see this as another transformative moment in our journey with Windows where Copilot will be the entry point into the world of AI on the PC.”

The Copilot key might be added to new Windows laptops launched from February, together with some fashions on the CES commerce present this month and on future Surface computer systems, Microsoft stated. In a brief promotional video, the secret's positioned to the appropriate of the house bar between the Alt and left arrow keys.

“The introduction of the Copilot key marks the first significant change to the Windows PC keyboard in nearly three decades,” Mehdi stated. “We believe it will empower people to participate in the AI transformation more easily. The Copilot key joins the Windows key as a core part of the PC keyboard and when pressed, the new key will invoke the Copilot in Windows experience to make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day to day.”

Copilot’s AI smarts are primarily based on AI tech from OpenAI, the corporate behind ChatGPT, of which Microsoft is an investor. Copilot makes use of what is called a multimodal giant language mannequin to collate on-line info and carry out advanced duties at quick speeds.

Microsoft is already including Copilot to current Windows 11 PCs as a contemporary digital assistant. Remember Clippy the paperclip from Windows 98? Copilot is the trendy model, serving to you do easy duties different voice assistants can do corresponding to search the online or play a music, proper via to superior duties solely doable utilizing on-line synthetic intelligence, corresponding to creating photos from an outline or creating social media-ready movies out of your digicam roll.

This isn’t the primary time a tech firm has put a devoted button on its {hardware} in an try and get folks to make use of a selected operate extra often. Samsung and different Android manufacturers put voice assistant buttons on smartphones for a couple of years that might name up Google Assistant or Samsung Bixby, however such buttons are usually not discovered on the most recent Android units.