- Windows 11 might be getting a new Copilot feature for File Explorer
- There's a hidden button that could invoke the AI in the latest preview builds
- Furthermore, clues in those preview releases indicate that Copilot might even appear in its own side panel for folders on the desktop
Windows 11 could soon feature a Copilot button in File Explorer, potentially allowing users to access an AI assistant side panel, a change that may not be welcomed by everyone.
Windows Central noticed that a well-known leaker (PhantomOfEarth) found a hidden button in the navigation bar of File Explorer in the latest Windows 11 preview builds.
This button remains invisible until you hover over the bar, suggesting Microsoft is planning some sort of addition. Other clues, including code strings in the same preview builds, reference a 'Chat with Copilot' feature and the option to detach Copilot from File Explorer.
The theory is that this Copilot sidebar will be activated by clicking the currently non-visible button, providing direct feedback on files, such as summarizing documents or suggesting edits to photos.
Windows Central also flagged that the latest preview build of Windows 11, released last week, includes additional changes for Copilot.
One such change enhances the Narrator tool, enabling it to provide AI-generated descriptions of images for visually impaired users. This feature, previously exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, will soon be available to all Windows 11 users once the testing phase concludes.
IT admins will also have the ability to remove the Copilot app from managed devices, provided Microsoft 365 Copilot is installed. Regular users can uninstall the Copilot app, although this does not eliminate the AI's presence in Windows 11, as it is integrated throughout the system.
While there are tools available to strip much of the AI from Windows 11, caution is advised when using such tools, as previously discussed.
Analysis: don't get testy yet – it's still in testing
Currently, Copilot is present in File Explorer through the context menu that appears when right-clicking a file, offering various AI shortcuts. However, the proposed dedicated Copilot button and potential side panel would make the AI more prominent in desktop folders.
This move aligns with Microsoft's renewed focus on AI over the past few months, especially since AI agents became a significant feature in Windows 11. However, such a change may not be popular unless users can opt out or easily disable the button.
It seems likely that Microsoft will implement this feature as opt-in, considering the sensitivity surrounding Copilot and the backlash against excessive AI integration in Windows 11, as evidenced by the 'Microslop' controversy.
As of now, the button is not live in testing, and we only have hints about its potential functionality. Nonetheless, a Copilot sidebar similar to that in Edge seems plausible, and we will have to wait to see how this develops.
For now, we will continue to monitor the preview builds and keep an eye on the leakers who delve into the details of these test releases.
