How to activate Copilot on Windows 11
Microsoft has formally replaced Cortana with Copilot, an innovative AI-powered assistant that seamlessly integrates Bing Chat into your desktop. Additionally, it brings a host of new features, enabling you to harness the power of OpenAI’s GPT-4 across Microsoft’s diverse services. Here’s the step-by-step guide to activating Copilot on Windows 11.
To begin, the initial step involves updating your Windows to the latest version. Microsoft introduced Copilot as part of version 23H2, which is the significant 2023 upgrade for Windows 11. Given the ongoing buzz about Windows 12’s potential release next year, this might well be the final major upgrade for the operating system, so making the most of it is advisable.
Credit: Microsoft
Microsoft offers numerous free Copilot features, including a wide array of AI options integrated into basic Windows programs like Paint. However, to fully utilize this new assistant, you’ll need to activate it. To do so, navigate to Settings > Personalization > Taskbar and switch on Copilot. It’s currently in a preview phase, with Microsoft planning to introduce even more features for Copilot in the future.
Once you’ve enabled it, initiating Copilot in Windows is as simple as clicking the Copilot icon on the taskbar. This action opens up Copilot on the right side of the screen. From there, you can configure GPT-4’s response mode or simply start asking questions and receiving answers.
While having direct access to Bing Chat on your desktop is convenient, Copilot’s features may not be overly compelling for the average user, at least at this stage. Microsoft has plans to enhance the AI assistant with additional capabilities in the future, although the specifics remain undisclosed. As generative AI like GPT-4 continues to advance, it’s highly probable that Copilot will evolve alongside it.
