At Build 2023, Microsoft announced Windows Copilot. The idea is simple: embed artificial intelligence into the operating system. The idea is simple: building AI directly into the operating system. In the same way that the Edge browser (and soon the entire Office application stack) have their own AI assistants, Windows will have them too.
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Speaking with Microsoft's Windows (and Surface) team lead, Panos Panay, we wanted to delve into a different potential use case for creative AI as an accessibility tool. It wasn't phrased that way, specifically, but having access to an intelligent virtual assistant built into a computer's operating system certainly seems to have some significant accessibility value.
Microsoft isn't new to the world of accessibility—in fact, the company has been beefing up its offerings in a number of ways lately, including features in Windows like Live Captions or modular Adaptive Accessories. But with Windows Copilot, there's a new opportunity to bring it all together.
Now, there has always been a basic search function in Windows, but its super-intelligent functionality turns search into the ultimate accessibility tool. In particular, Windows Copilot can help those who struggle to fully operate their computer in one way or another.
“When you think about accessibility, whether it's a dexterity issue, whether you want to use voice, whether you write, or type – whatever the input method – Copilot will accept it”, said Panay.
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Being able to control your operating system entirely through Windows Copilot via voice or text appears to be an extremely beneficial feature for some. However, the even greater benefit that Windows Copilot has is the discovery function.
Panay mentioned the wealth of accessibility options already built into Windows, whether it's Magnifier, Color Filters, Narrator, Live Captions, Translation, or even Sticky Keys. But the problem is that many people who could potentially benefit from one or more of these features may not know they exist. In theory, you could ask Copilot to help you with something and it would automatically point you in the right direction. You wouldn't have to dig through settings to see if it was there.
We should wait until we use Windows Copilot ourselves to see how good it is at these things, but for now, it is certainly very promising.
Information source: digitaltrends.com
