Windows 10: Microsoft wants to bring AI enhancements to Paint, Photos on Windows 11

Windows Copilot may not be the only AI feature that we may get in Windows 11. Microsoft reportedly wants to bring AI enhancements to other apps including Paint, Photos, Snipping Tool and Camera.

The news comes from Windows Central, which cites internal sources from Microsoft. The Redmond company has been working on several AI-related capabilities for its apps on Windows 11. Some of these features may require an NPU (neural processing unit) or a VPU (vision processing unit).

MS Paint, Photos, Snipping Tool and Camera could gain AI features


According to the report, MS Paint may gain support for a generative AI, that you could use to create some art based on criteria that you choose. An internal mock up image shared by the blog, shows a redesigned version of the app with a Magic Paint button in the toolbar, that may be used to access the AI features. We can also see a text box where you can describe the image's content, along with thumbnails, which are likely fetched from the web. The AI-image generator in MS Paint is said to be similar to the one found in Bing Image Creator.



(Image credits: Windows Central)

Moving to the Photos app, the image viewer/editor will allow its built-in AI tool to identify objects and people in photos. The user, may then pick them up and paste them in other apps. This feature sounds remarkably similar to what the Photos app in macOS, iOS and iPadOS can do, and so can Android's Google Photos app, at least on Pixel devices.

Microsoft wants to bring OCR (optical character recognition) to the Snipping Tool. This will grant the tool the ability to identify text in screenshots that it captures, and likely in existing images. The text content from these could be copied to the clipboard, to be pasted in other apps. The company is also said to be bringing a similar OCR feature to the camera up, to take photos and detect text in the media.

The AI features are still in an experimental phase. It is unclear whey they could be released for Windows 11 users. I wonder if these apps will be affected by Microsoft's Services Agreement that was recently updated with clauses about the usage and ownership of AI generated content. This also raises the question whether these AI-related features would work without signing in to a Microsoft account.

Bing Chat has been very popular among users, so it is not really surprising to see that Microsoft wants to incorporate its AI in other apps. The company has embedded it in Microsoft Edge, Skype, and even in the SwitfKey keyboard for Android and iOS. That being said, Microsoft may be overstepping by cramming the AI into practically every app. Not everyone will be a fan of these improvements, but as long as these are optional, i.e. can be disabled, it should not pose a problem for most users. Besides, not everyone may use Edge or Skype, but chances are more people may use Paint, Photos, Snipping Tool, so from Microsoft's perspective, this may be a good way to gain more users onboard.

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Introducing a big update to Windows 11 making the everyday easier including bringing the new AI-powered Bing to the taskbar

Introducing a big update to Windows 11 making the everyday easier including bringing the new AI-powered Bing to the taskbar | Windows Experience Blog

The following notes coincide with the Windows 11 22H2 update released on Feb 28th, 2023.

• New AI-powered Bing to the taskbar: A major update to Windows 11 that adds the new Bing in the taskbar and other features that make the PC more relevant and useful in the age of AI.
  

• Additional new Windows 11 features in the update, designed to make your everyday easier: More new features from across the team that aim to simplify and enhance various aspects of using Windows 11, such as connecting with phones, video calling, getting help and accessing widgets.
  

• Introducing Phone Link for iOS in preview: A preview of Phone Link for iOS that allows iPhone users to link their devices to their Windows 11 PCs and receive calls and texts without interruption.
  

• Android phone users get an even richer experience: Some improvements for Android users who use Phone Link, such as activating personal hotspot, transferring browser sessions and accessing recent websites from their phones on their PCs.
  

• Broadcast your best self, right when you need to with advanced AI: Windows Studio Effects, a collection of audio and video effects powered by advanced AI that enable users to customize their video calling experience with features like eye contact, background blur and voice focus. It also mentions some new devices that support these features.
  

• Connect in more ways with a simple click: Chat with Microsoft Teams integration that makes it easier for users to communicate with their contacts from their desktops on the taskbar. It also mentions a revamped signature experience that allows users to preview their video and jump straight into a call or share a call link through any app.
  

• Providing help is easier than ever with the redesigned Quick Assist app: Quick Assist app that helps users provide technical assistance to family and friends remotely. It also mentions some new capabilities like switching between screen sharing and full control and using a laser pointer to highlight things on screen.
  

• More of the news and information you care about is just a swipe away: Some new Widgets that deliver important information at a glance, such as Phone Link, Xbox Game Pass, Meta and Spotify. It also provides information on developer tools to create widgets for Windows customers.
  

• Enhancing your touch experience: Some enhancements for touch experiences on Windows 11 devices, such as touch controls for Snap, haptics feedback for virtual keyboard and voice typing with auto punctuation.
  

 

Microsoft signals end of Paint program

Microsoft has confirmed that it will continue to offer its graphics program Paint.

In a recent update, it had listed Paint as a feature that would be either removed or no longer developed.

Paint, renowned for its simplicity, has been part of the Windows operating system since its launch in 1985.

Microsoft suggested it would not remain on Windows 10 by default but did say it would be available for free on the Windows Store.

BBC news Report here
Microsoft Paint avoids brush with death

 

Photos are opening with Paint instead of Photos app

Hello,

It's likely that your default application for opening photos is Paint. To change your default program in Windows 10 from
Paint to the Photo app, we suggest that you perform the following steps:

• On the Start menu, select Settings.
  
• Go to System, then go to Default apps.
  
• Select Photos or any app that you like to be the default under
  Photo viewer.

Update us if the steps above helped you in resolving your concern.