Windows 10: Microsoft introduces "Hey, Copilot" wake word for activating the AI on Windows 11

Microsoft has announced yet another new feature for its Copilot app for Windows. You can invoke it with your voice simply by saying the phrase, “Hey, Copilot!”.

This may remind users of "Hey, Cortana!", and the idea is quite similar. Microsoft wants users to start a conversation with a hands-free experience powered Copilot Voice. It is an opt-in feature, users who want to try it will need to manually enable the option that says “Listen for ‘Hey, Copilot’ to start a conversation” in the Settings page of the Copilot app. This will bring up a Copilot microphone appear on your screen, which Microsoft has labeled "Copilot Voice Floating UI". It looks similar to the microphone icon in the Copilot app for iOS and Android.

Copilot will also play a chime to indicate that it is listening to your voice. The app will automatically stop recording if you don't interact with it after invoking the voice-activation mode. Users may also click on ‘X’ to end the conversation manually. It offers a faster way to ask questions without using the mouse and keyboard. Hey Copilot! can only be used when the PC is unlocked, and that the feature requires an internet connection to work.

Microsoft says that the feature uses an on-device wake word spotter that only detects the ‘Hey Copilot’ phrase. This wake word spotter has an on-device 10 second audio buffer in memory, and the content in this buffer is not recorded or stored locally, i.e., the app will detect what you are saying without recording it. The audio buffer will send audio from when “Hey Copilot” was detected to the cloud, to fetch answers for the question you asked.

As of now, the ‘Hey Copilot’ wake word is only available for users who have set their display language in Windows set to English. The feature is rolling out to users who have Copilot app version 1.25051.10.0 and higher, which is currently available for participants in the Windows Insider Program.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft introduces "Hey, Copilot" wake word for activating the AI on Windows 11 appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

read more...

 

Microsoft plans to bring Copilot to Windows 10

Read more: Exclusive: Microsoft will update Windows 10 with new AI Copilot soon | Windows Central See also: Announcing Microsoft Copilot, your everyday AI companion | Windows 11 Forum

 

How do I disable Copilot and all Other AI functionality in Windows 11 HOME edition

I want to fully disable (or preferably remove) Copilot and all other AI functionality in Windows 11 Home Edition. This question may belong under another topic; I just guessed at Settings.



See the bottom of this post for system information. Below are specific questions related to the details of disabling Copilot and AI functionality. I have not been able to find any of this information on any Microsoft resources; perhaps I missed something?.

• Disabling Copilot in Windows 11 Home Edition: Please note that I am running Windows 11 Home edition - not Pro, Enterprise, etc., where I could solve the problem with group policies or other administrative options. The Windows Update setting "Get the latest updates" is turned on, so I am running Copilot Preview.
  

• Copilot Taskbar Button: I have hidden Copilot on the taskbar, but that is obviously not the same as disabling Copilot or other AI functionality.
  

• Disabling Copilot via Registry: There are instructions on various websites for disabling Copilot by editing the registry; I would appreciate details about how to do that, as long as the necessary edits are reasonably safe and reliable.
  

• Disabling all AI functionality: How centralized is AI functionality in Windows 11? Does disabling Copilot disable AI functionality across all Windows 11 built-in features, as well as Microsoft desktop apps? Or has AI metastasized across the entire Windows ecosystem, requiring a constant game of whack-a-mole to disable everywhere?
  

Thanks in advance for any help.

- Laura

Windows System Information:

Edition Windows 11 Home

Version 22H2

OS build OS Build 22621.2361 Preview (KB5030310)

 

How to disable copilot in Windows 11 23H2?

There is a solution to keep Copilot out of your eyesight, it does not permanently remove or uninstall Copilot from your Windows 11 environment. Microsoft is persistent and Copilot is inevitable, not to mention the latest computers are equipped with a dedicated Copilot Key in the keyboard. Hence, it is up to us to get used to this feature, and also the field of AI is exponentially increasing, so it is better to get used to it. However, the simple solution is to disable copilot via Taskbar as you mentioned that Policy Editor didn't help. The following are the steps.

• Go to Windows Settings.
  
• Click on Personalization.
  
• Under Taskbar, you can find Copilot (preview)
  
• Toggle the switch to Off.
  
• In this way, Copilot can be kept out of sight.
  

I hope the same works for you.