Microsoft has quietly introduced a way to allow users to test experimental features. You can opt in to the Windows AI Lab.
Last week, Windows Latest reported that Microsoft was testing Windows AI Labs. The feature was spotted in Microsoft Paint, which displayed a pop-up that said, "Try experimental AI features in paint". It had an option to sign up for the Windows AI Labs program for paint from the app's settings.
(Image courtesy: Windows Latest)
The settings page had 2 buttons, Sign up, to discover the new AI-powered tools in Paint, and share feedback about the features. It also had a "Not interested" button, to dismiss the message.
So, is this available in the Windows 11 stable version? Or is it exclusive for Insiders? I couldn't find any information about this, so I just checked the Paint app version number seen in the screenshot, Paint 11.2508.361.0. That's the one I wrote about a few days ago, it was released for Windows Insiders and introduced the option to save your work as a project. Based on that, this AI labs feature is likely only for Windows Insiders on a Canary or Dev Channel build of Windows 11, and not for stable users.
Today, Microsoft told The Verge in a statement that "The Windows AI Lab is a pilot acceleration program for validating novel AI feature ideas on Windows. The program focuses on rapid customer feedback on feature usability, customer interest, and market fit."
An official confirmation is good, this is essentially a pre-release update program to provide early access to features that are being tested, and may not make it to the final version. Now, I still can't find any documentation regarding the Windows AI Labs program. That's rather odd. It's unclear why this Windows AI Lab has only been seen in Paint, and not it in Notepad, Snipping Tool, etc., given that those apps were also updated recently.
I think early access to features might have been cool in the pre-AI era, but it's a different story now, not everyone wants to use AI. Do you use Microsoft 365? Well, you should know that Copilot may be installed automatically on your PC, with some exceptions.
What about you? Early access to AI features in Windows apps?
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