Microsoft recently made an announcement regarding the availability of its AI assistant, Microsoft Copilot, on a wider range of Windows 10 and 11 devices. This feature, currently in preview, can be accessed through an icon located on the Windows taskbar.
Microsoft has included the tool as a default feature on Windows 11 version 23H2 devices, although it is deactivated on Windows 11 version 22H2 devices.
Reports from Deskmodder suggest that Microsoft is introducing the Microsoft Copilot application on Windows 11 devices as well. At this stage, the new app does not activate the actual Copilot functionality.
During a quick system test, the app was initially not detected, but it appeared following an update of Microsoft Edge to the latest version on the system.
Microsoft Copilot App Details
The process to verify if the app is installed includes the following steps:
1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
2. Change the sort order to “Date installed” or search for “Copilot.”
3. If Microsoft Copilot is listed, the app is installed on the device.
Users have the freedom to uninstall the app if necessary. By selecting “advanced options,” users can view some specifics such as the current version of the app, which is 1.0.3.0, and its current size, which is 0 bytes.
These details suggest that the app may act as a placeholder for now, lacking any active features. Further investigation by Deskmodder revealed associated files, including app icons. It is unclear whether this status is region-specific or if Microsoft intends to deploy the placeholder app across all devices for future updates.
Furthermore, Deskmodder discovered an interesting detail in the application’s AppxManifest.xml file. The manifest indicates compatibility for the app, setting a minimum compatibility version for Windows 10 and a maximum compatibility version for Windows 12.0.0.0.
The implications of this compatibility setting, whether signaling ongoing Windows 12 development or reflecting earlier Microsoft considerations, are subject to debate.
Concluding thoughts
Microsoft has not officially introduced the release of the Microsoft Copilot app or provided details about its functionalities. The speculated connection between the app and Microsoft Edge remains unconfirmed. This aligns with Microsoft’s strategy of occasionally releasing new apps on user devices without prior announcements.
Importantly, continuous improvements in Copilot’s Windows management capabilities are underway, allowing users to interact with the AI to control various Windows features. Nevertheless, this functionality relies on remote processing through Microsoft servers rather than local execution.
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