Microsoft AI Copilot's 'Windows Recall' Can Now Track All User Activities On PC. Here's All You Need To Know

While Recall can track all activities, Microsoft has assured users of their privacy, stating that they can choose to filter out any activities they prefer not to be monitored.

Microsoft announced an upgraded version of its AI assistant, Copilot, on Monday. This development comes as part of the company's strategy to enhance user interaction with their devices, allowing the AI to remember user activities and assist in predicting subsequent actions. The tech giant unveiled these advancements ahead of its annual Build developer conference in Seattle, emphasising the integration of AI into its widely-used Windows operating system.

The latest features include Windows Recall, designed to give the AI assistant near-photographic memory capabilities, tracking user activities on their PC. Microsoft has assured users of their privacy, stating that they can choose to filter out any activities they prefer not to be monitored.

Rivalling AI Giants

This announcement follows a wave of AI-related developments from major competitors, including Google and OpenAI, both of which have introduced significant updates to their AI technologies. Google's recent enhancements to its search engine feature AI-generated summaries, while OpenAI, Microsoft's close partner and the creator of the large language models underpinning Copilot, showcased a new voice assistant with remarkably human-like qualities.

OpenAI's latest version of ChatGPT, introduced last week, can engage in conversations that mimic human interaction to an impressive degree, although it notably withdrew a voice that closely resembled Scarlett Johansson's portrayal of an AI in the movie “Her” due to its uncanny resemblance.

OpenAI's Mac Tryst

Despite Microsoft's substantial investments in OpenAI, the latter has also launched a new desktop version of ChatGPT tailored for Apple’s Mac computers, indicating a broadening of its platform reach.

With Apple’s own developer conference scheduled for June, where CEO Tim Cook is expected to highlight the company's advancements in generative AI, Microsoft's announcements appear strategically timed. The new AI-driven features in Windows will be available from June 18, initially on high-end models from manufacturers like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, and on Microsoft’s own Surface devices, starting at $999.

This rollout is seen as a pre-emptive measure to counter potential announcements from Apple, trying to ensure that Microsoft maintains a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving AI technology landscape.