Microsoft released a new insider preview build to the developer and beta channels of Windows 11. The new build 26220.7262 introduces several new features and changes, including a new "experimental agentic features" toggle in the Settings.
If you recall, Microsoft announced this month that it is turning Windows into an agentic operating system. The post, by Windows-chief Pavan Davuluri on X, faced heavy criticism. To the point that Davuluri limited the commenting ability.
The new AI component setting in the development edition of Windows 11 is a major step towards that goal. First, the good news. Microsoft is shipping the feature turned off. Windows users who want to enable the experimental AI features need to turn it on first before they can do so.
Here is what happens when you activate the toggle: Only administrators may activate the feature, but it will then be enabled for all users on the system automatically.
Once enabled, three main and far-reaching changes occur on the system that give AI access to a wider range of features.
- Windows may create AI agents with separate accounts on the device, that act on the user's behalf.
- Creation of agent workspaces, that allow them to "work in parallel with a human user". This happens using runtime isolation and scoped authorization, according to Microsoft.
- Agentic apps may request and access six folders: Documents, Downloads, Desktop, Music, Pictures and Videos.
Microsoft is introducing several new key concepts into Windows that may require an explanation.
A key component for Windows' agentic future is the agent workspace. Think of it as a separate isolated desktop for AI agents. This separates the AI from the user's own desktop, but still allows for some interactions to occur.
Notably, agentic AIs have access to all apps by default that all users of the operating system have access to. If an app is installed system-wide, the AI has access to it as well.
Microsoft says that access can be limited by installing an app only for a specific user. Also, the ability to install apps for specific AI agents is also coming.
Besides access to apps, agentic AI is also getting file access. Access is limited to the six folders mentioned above and all folders that all "authenticated users have access to".
Agentic security principles
Microsoft recommends that administrators enable the experimental feature only if they are aware of certain security implications:
- AI models face functional limits in terms of how they behave.
- Hallucination, which means made-up information, is still a problem.
- Agentic AI may also introduce new security risks, like cross-prompt injection.
The implementation brings along with it "robust security and privacy controls that empower customers to explore their potential confidently with the support of clear guidance and appropriate guardrails driven by these goals", according to Microsoft.
Three goals are mentioned specifically:
- Non-repudiation: Which should make all agent actions "observable and distinguishable".
- Confidentiality: Agents that access user data should "meet or exceed the security and privacy standards of the data".
- Authorization: The user approves "all queries for user data as well as actions taken".
Microsoft has not revealed when the new functionality will become available in stable versions of the Windows operating system. It seems likely that this won't happen for quite a while, considering the experimental nature of the feature and the delicate nature of introducing agentic AI into the operating system. My guess? Could be part of Windows 11, version 26H2, the main feature update for the operating system in 2026.
Now You: what is your take on agentic AI? Something that you use already, plan to use, or have no need for? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft begins preparing Windows 11 for its agentic AI future appeared first on gHacks Technology News.
0 Commentaires