Kate Mills 
Mar 02, 2024
Microsoft rolled out a new update for Windows 11 in March 2024, delivering a range of new features and major improvements to supported PCs, laptops, and workstations. The announcement came on Thursday, revealing that the update has started rolling out to users.
However, not all features will be immediately available, with the new Copilot features expected to arrive later this month. Among the notable additions are enhancements to Widgets, expanded capabilities for the AI-powered chatbot Copilot, and new features for multiple applications.
In a Windows blog post, Yusuf Mehdi, Executive Vice President and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, highlighted that the Copilot features built on the introduction of the Copilot key on Windows PCs' keyboards earlier this year. He also highlighted that Snap, Widgets, and Inking are going to receive major upgrades, according to Gadgets360.
Copilot is set to receive new plugins enabling tasks such as making restaurant reservations through OpenTable and ordering groceries via Instacart. Support for Shopify, Klarna, and Kayak will also be added in the coming months.
Additionally, Copilot will handle various tasks simply through typing prompts, including activating the battery saver, launching the narrator, emptying the recycle bin, initiating the screen magnifier, displaying available Wi-Fi networks, and more. These features are expected to roll out by late March.
Read more: Copilot for Finance — A tailoured AI tool of Microsoft's 'Copilot' strategy
Windows 11 will introduce AI enhancements for creativity apps, including Generative Erase in the Photos app which can remove unwanted objects or imperfections from images, similar to AI features found in the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and Google Pixel 8 series. ClipChamp is also set to get an improvement, enabling the removal of awkward silences in audio tracks.
A notable addition to this update allows users to utilize their Android smartphones as webcams for video calls. This feature, currently in testing with Windows Insiders, requires a smartphone running Android 9 or higher and linking with a Windows app version 1.24012 or higher.
Improvements are also coming to Widgets and the Snap layout feature, providing users with more control over Widgets and smarter Snap organization based on user preferences.
Finally, an accessibility feature is being introduced, enabling users to create custom tasks and add Voice Shortcuts for efficient verbal commands, including pasting text and media, executing keyboard keys or mouse clicks, and opening folders, files, apps, or URLs, among others.
