Microsoft launches Windows AI search function test to improve file search experience

Microsoft recently launched AI-powered Windows search functionality in the latest Dev Channel build for Windows 11 Insider testers. The new feature, first announced in October, aims to leverage semantic indexing technology to help users search local files in a more natural language. It should be noted that users must have a Copi lot Plus PC to use this feature.

This AI search feature can be applied to the search box in Settings, File Explorer, or the taskbar, so users can enjoy this convenience no matter where they search. In addition, thanks to the NPU chip in the Copi lot Plus computer, this technology supports offline use without the need for an Internet connection. Currently, the AI ​​search function is mainly limited to Windows settings and files in specific formats, including JPEG, PNG, PDF, TXT, and XLS.

Microsoft says the search feature only works at user-selected index locations. Users can adjust the index position in Settings > Privacy & Security > Search Windows, or turn on the Enhanced feature to index the entire computer. In the future, this feature is expected to expand to include cloud data, such as files stored in OneDrive.

According to Microsoft, this AI-driven Windows search feature will gradually be extended to Copilot Plus PCs using Snapdragon processors, and will later support Copilot Plus computers with Intel and AMD processors. In addition, this function supports multiple languages ​​​​such as Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish, aiming to meet the needs of different users.

In addition to the new search feature, the latest version also includes AI writing tools provided by Click to Do. When the user holds down the Windows key and left-clicks on the screen, a context-sensitive menu of options pops up. Users can select a block of text and click "Rewrite," then select the "Optimize" option to perform grammatical corrections to further improve the accuracy and smoothness of the text.