Hands on: Windows Copilot can't decide what it is

Is Windows Copilot just Bing Chat plus some additional artificial intelligence, or is it more? Right now, it doesn't seem to know.

- MARK HACHMAN

Windows Copilot is one part Bing, one part Windows. It's a ChatGPT artificial W intelligence assistant that can perform tasks for you one moment, but then pleads ignorance the next. Microsoft's Al assistant within Windows 11 certainly has potential, but during my time with it, achieving a consistent experience was one of its unexpected challenges.

Windows Copilot, the migration of Microsoft's Al-powered Bing Chat into Windows, debuted in late June as part of the latest Windows Insider build for the Dev Channel (fave.co/46KXFPW). Microsoft announced Copilot (fave.co/3N0trzG) at the end of May, with a promise to bring it into testing by the end of June. It hasn't reached its full potential yet, but it will see a full release later this year.

 To experience Copilot, you'll need to sign up for the Windows Insider Dev Channel, download the build, and make sure that Microsoft Edge is also updated to its latest version. If you don't see the small Windows Copilot icon resting to the left of the search icon or box on the Taskbar, that's most likely why. Otherwise, you can click the icon (or use the Windows + C shortcut), and Windows Copilot will slide out from the right-hand navigation pane as a vertical column for conversation.

HOW TO USE WINDOWS COPILOT

Microsoft opened up the Bing Chat Al chatbot near the end of May, so you should be familiar with its basic structure: You can interact with Copilot a number of times (currently 30) before you have to start over and refresh the conversation. That's still the case with Windows Copilot. You can also interact with Copilot in a Creative, Balanced, or Precise voice, though it won't affect how Copilot performs PC-centric tasks.