The Most Important New Features in the Upcoming Microsoft Windows 11 23H2 Update

Microsoft has just announced Windows 11 23H2 , the next big software update for your PC. The company promises over 150 new features in this update, many of which are AI-focused. While we’ll have to wait until the update is released to check out each new change, let’s talk about the ones Microsoft highlighted in its announcement today.

Copilot is now integrated with Windows 11.

By far the biggest announcement was Copilot. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Microsoft already had an artificial intelligence service called Copilot that ran its suite of apps. However, with the 23H2 update, Copilot will be integrated into all Microsoft services.

Built on the same tools as Bing Chat , Copilot works with Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, as well as on the web with Edge and Bing. You can think of it as an advanced version of Cortana with artificial intelligence (RIP). This means that it is both a standalone application and directly integrated into all of these services. If you want to chat with Copilot, you can launch the program from the taskbar or using the Win+C keyboard shortcut. If you have queries while working in a Windows application, you will be able to launch Copilot at any time without leaving the window.

There are many examples where this cross-platform integration can provide benefits: say, you open a new document to read, but it takes too long to study it before a meeting. Ask Copilot to summarize the summary for you in Word, then switch to PowerPoint and have an assistant create a presentation based on that summary. More generally, you can ask the Copilot app to organize your windows and clear your desktop, then start a playlist to help you focus.

Copilot will have an initial release on PCs starting with the upcoming Windows 11 update on September 26, and will be coming to Bing, Edge, and Microsoft 365 later this fall. Microsoft 365 Copilot will also be available to enterprise customers.

Windows 11 23H2 has many other notable AI features.

Copilot isn’t the only new AI feature coming to Windows 11. Far from it. Microsoft has announced a slew of AI improvements, as well as other new changes that Windows users can expect in the new update.

For example, in Photos, you’ll have a new feature called Background Blur, which uses artificial intelligence to intelligently blur the background and highlight the subject. You’ll also find that your search will be more efficient because you can search for the content and location of a photo stored on OneDrive. Paint also gets an AI upgrade, adding AI tools for drawing and creating, as well as a background remover, layers, and “Cocreator,” an AI image generator to enhance your creations.

By taking screenshots, you’ll be able to copy and paste text from the image into other apps, as well as edit any text you don’t want others to see. Additionally, you’ll have tools to record audio from both the source and your microphone while recording your screen and edit those recordings in Clipchamp, which will have an “auto-generate” feature, providing editing recommendations generated by artificial intelligence.

This time around t00 , Outlook will get an update : the email app will allow you to connect to email services like Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud and others, and you will be able to take advantage of artificial intelligence tools to compose emails as well as attach files from OneDrive.

When you write in Notepad, you’ll never have to save things manually because the app automatically saves everything you do. Close whenever you want and open again to continue where you left off. The same goes for any open tabs, unsaved content, and changes.

Microsoft has updated File Explorer with a new look, including updates to the home page, address bar, and search field. Microsoft says you’ll now be able to collaborate on files with others without even opening them. You’ll also see a new Gallery option that makes it easier to view your photos. There are also updates for Windows Backup that are designed to make it easier to move from one computer to another.

Windows 11 finally supports RAR and 7-zip natively and will now come with a new Volume Mixer that makes it easy to adjust the volume of individual apps as well as switch audio outputs. (Windows Insiders already have these features, but they will officially arrive in Windows 23H2.)

If you have a computer with a stylus, you’ll also be able to write in any Windows text field, and the new “Ink Anywhere” feature converts your handwriting into text.

When will Windows 11 23H2 be released?

Microsoft plans to release the big update 23H2 for Windows 11 on Tuesday, September 26th . Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for Updates on Tuesday to download and install the update when it’s released.