In its most significant keyboard update in three decades, Microsoft is introducing a “Copilot” key, allowing users to summon an AI-powered assistant with a single click. The Copilot key is set to be featured on new PCs from various manufacturers running the Windows operating system, marking what Microsoft heralds as “the year of the AI PC.”
With the introduction of the Copilot key, users will have the convenience of engaging with Microsoft’s AI-powered chatbot to ask questions or assist in drafting emails. Yusuf Mehdi, the executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft, emphasized in a blog post that this innovation aims to simplify and enhance users’ computing experiences, positioning 2024 as the year of the AI PC.
The new key will ultimately “make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day to day,” Mehdi added. Copilot, notably, is propelled by OpenAI’s underlying technology after Microsoft’s $13 billion investment into the AI startup.
If Copilot is not yet available in a user’s country or not enabled on their device, pressing the Copilot key will launch Windows Search. The newly introduced key features a Copilot ribbon logo and is positioned on the lower right side of the keyboard, close to the space bar and alt button.
This addition marks a notable change to the Windows PC keyboard, representing the first major update since the introduction of the Windows key in 1994. The Windows key, added back then, became a standard feature on laptop and desktop keyboards offered by various manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, and HP. its most significant keyboard
Microsoft’s announcement of the Copilot key precedes the CES tech convention, where more AI product updates are expected to be revealed by various companies. Over the past year, major tech companies have been actively incorporating and developing AI tools across their product ranges. Yusuf Mehdi, in the blog post introducing the Copilot key, also hinted at a “significant shift” in 2024 for Microsoft, suggesting a seamless integration of AI into Windows, spanning from the system to the silicon to the hardware.