Microsoft’s latest update to Copilot for Windows 11 pushes the assistant farther into the OS — adding third‑party extensions that let Copilot act on your behalf across the web, new “settings” skills that can change system options for you, and AI enhancements in core apps like Photos and Clipchamp — while Microsoft continues to monetize advanced access with the Copilot Pro $20/month plan.
Microsoft introduced Copilot as a deeply integrated AI experience for Windows, and the company has iterated rapidly: moving from an embedded sidebar to a more app‑centric Copilot that now blends local helpers with cloud models. Recent announcements reveal two parallel tracks. First, Copilot is gaining “Actions” or extension/plugin support so it can complete tasks on the web (booking a table, ordering groceries, searching travel inventory). Second, Copilot is being given direct hooks into Windows’ system and accessibility settings so users can make common configuration changes with plain English prompts. Both changes are rolling out in stages via Windows update channels and Microsoft Store updates for Windows 11 builds (including 22H2/23H2 families) and in preview form for some features. (blogs.windows.com) (support.microsoft.com)
What Copilot Pro promises:
Microsoft’s strategy is clear: fold AI into the OS so Copilot becomes the primary way many people search, configure, and act on their Windows machines. The result will be faster workflows for many users — and a new set of questions for IT and privacy teams to answer as agents gain the ability to do things for us rather than just tell us how to do them. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com, microsoft.com)
Source: Mashdigi Microsoft updates Windows 11's Copilot service, allowing you to use extensions and set up your computer more intuitively
Background
Microsoft introduced Copilot as a deeply integrated AI experience for Windows, and the company has iterated rapidly: moving from an embedded sidebar to a more app‑centric Copilot that now blends local helpers with cloud models. Recent announcements reveal two parallel tracks. First, Copilot is gaining “Actions” or extension/plugin support so it can complete tasks on the web (booking a table, ordering groceries, searching travel inventory). Second, Copilot is being given direct hooks into Windows’ system and accessibility settings so users can make common configuration changes with plain English prompts. Both changes are rolling out in stages via Windows update channels and Microsoft Store updates for Windows 11 builds (including 22H2/23H2 families) and in preview form for some features. (blogs.windows.com) (support.microsoft.com)What changed — the headline features
1) Extensions and Actions: Copilot can now act on the web
- Copilot’s new “Actions” (or plugin/extension) capability allows the assistant to interact with partner sites and services and complete tasks like restaurant bookings, travel searches, and shopping flows.
- Launch partners include OpenTable and Instacart today, with additional partners such as Kayak, Klarna, Shopify and major travel aggregators being added over a rolling timeframe. This enables scenarios such as: “Book a table for four at 7pm on Friday via OpenTable” or “Find flights to Lisbon next month and hold the cheapest options on Kayak.” (theverge.com) (blogs.windows.com)
2) Settings control and system skills inside Copilot
- Copilot can now perform common Windows configuration actions on request: enable or disable battery saver, show device or system information, open storage pages, list available Wi‑Fi networks, and toggle accessibility tools like Live Captions, Narrator, Magnifier, and voice input. Microsoft documented sample prompts such as “enable battery saver” and “launch live captions.” (blogs.windows.com)
- Some of these features are being promoted specifically for Copilot+ devices (Windows PCs that include dedicated NPUs), where local acceleration can reduce latency and keep more processing on‑device. (learn.microsoft.com)
3) Creative and media improvements: Photos and Clipchamp
- Photos: Microsoft’s Photos app is gaining AI “object removal” (branded previously as Generative erase or Generative erase / spot fix), which uses generative fill techniques to remove distracting objects and synthesize convincing backgrounds. The capability has been in Insider channels and is being extended to more device families. (blogs.windows.com)
- Clipchamp: The Clipchamp AI video editor now includes an auto‑cut/silence removal feature that automatically detects long pauses or silent segments and suggests removing them; that tool has appeared in previews and documentation for both personal and work accounts. Microsoft and Clipchamp documentation describe a typical flow: transcribe, identify silences longer than a threshold (commonly ~3 seconds), preview suggestions, then bulk remove or accept corrections. (clipchamp.com, support.microsoft.com)
4) Snipping Tool, Widgets, Windows Ink and accessibility additions
- Snipping Tool adds “Perfect screenshot” (AI‑assisted crop/selection refinement) and a Color Picker that returns HEX/RGB/HSL values; some features are targeted to Copilot+ PCs first. (blogs.windows.com)
- Widgets and the widget board are being enhanced to show more inline content (articles, slideshows, video previews) and new customization options for lock screen widgets in certain regions. (blogs.windows.com)
- Accessibility enhancements include improved Narrator, live captions, and Magnifier shortcuts; Copilot’s new settings skills explicitly expose accessibility toggles such as screen magnifier, dictation, and subtitle controls. (blogs.windows.com, support.microsoft.com)
How Microsoft priced and packaged the advanced experience
Microsoft sells a paid tier — Copilot Pro — that offers “preferred access” to newer models during peak times, higher usage limits, extra image generation boosts in Designer (Image Creator), and early access to experimental features. The official Microsoft Store listing and multiple reports confirm the consumer price of $20.00 per user per month for Copilot Pro. This subscription is separate from Microsoft 365 rather than bundled by default, though certain Copilot in‑app capabilities are exposed to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers when paired appropriately. (microsoft.com, techcrunch.com)What Copilot Pro promises:
- Priority model access (useful during high load periods).
- Monthly AI usage “credits” or boosts for Designer Image Creator.
- Early or preferred access to experimental features like Actions or Copilot GPT customizations.
The rollout and device segmentation: Copilot vs Copilot+
Microsoft’s rollout strategy remains staged and layered:- Many Copilot features (extensions, settings skills, media edits) are being introduced in preview builds and via the Microsoft Store; availability varies by market and Windows build/version (22H2, 23H2, and Insider channels).
- A subset of advanced features — for example, the fastest on‑device experiences and some AI‑heavy tools such as “Perfect screenshot” or other low‑latency features — are initially gated to Copilot+ PCs (devices with NPUs capable of high TOPS performance). Microsoft documentation and industry coverage describe this as a hardware‑differentiated experience, with Microsoft planning to broaden support over time. (support.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)
Why this matters — strengths and user benefits
- Productivity without context switching: Allowing Copilot to fill forms, reserve restaurants, or place orders eliminates repeated tab switching and manual form‑filling. When it works, the time savings are real and immediate. (theverge.com)
- Natural language system control: Turning a setting on or off with a command like “turn on battery saver” lowers the barrier for less technical users and speeds routine tasks for power users. (blogs.windows.com)
- Creator acceleration: Tools such as Photos’ object removal and Clipchamp’s silence remover reduce manual editing time for images and video; these are practical features that improve output quality for hobbyists and professionals alike. (blogs.windows.com, clipchamp.com)
- Hardware‑accelerated on‑device AI: Copilot+ and NPU integration can reduce roundtrip latency and limit data sent to the cloud for some operations; this hybrid model balances capability and responsiveness for supported hardware. (learn.microsoft.com)
Risks, limitations and things to watch
- Privacy and data flow
- Many Copilot actions require interacting with web services and may involve transmitting form data or on‑screen content to cloud models. Microsoft states transfers are encrypted and that some features use local processing where possible, but the devil is in the details. Users must expect some data exchange with Microsoft’s cloud or partner sites, particularly for web actions, and enterprises should evaluate data residency and compliance implications. Independent coverage has flagged that these broadly capable agents increase the surface area for accidental data exposure. (theverge.com, blogs.windows.com)
- Trust and correctness
- When Copilot completes tasks autonomously (filling a reservation or making a purchase), it may make errors — choose the wrong date, misinterpret a user preference, or select the wrong product option. These are real UX risks for commerce and travel flows where mistakes can cost money or time. Vigilance and confirmation steps in the UI are essential.
- Security and account linking
- Using partners like OpenTable or Instacart will require account linking or credential exchanges. Each integration represents a trust relationship; if a user’s account is compromised, the agent’s ability to act can amplify the damage. Enterprises should require MFA and clear policies for booking or purchasing agents.
- Administrative control and governance
- For IT admins, the introduction of conversational system control means new change vectors that could be invoked by users or automated agents. Enterprises will want policy controls, logging, and the ability to disable or limit automated actions in managed environments. Microsoft’s enterprise feature pages and update notes stress staged rollouts and admin configuration options, but organizations should validate controls before wide deployment. (support.microsoft.com)
- Fragmented experience across hardware
- Some AI features are Copilot+ exclusive at launch. That creates a tiered Windows experience where a subset of users enjoy low latency, local inference features while others rely solely on cloud models — complicating support and expectations. Microsoft plans to expand hardware support, but buyers should not assume feature parity across all Windows 11 devices immediately. (learn.microsoft.com)
Practical guidance: how to use, manage, and test Copilot safely
- Start small and review confirmations:
- Use Copilot actions in preview for low‑risk tasks (searches, suggestions) before trusting it to make purchases or reservations automatically. Enable confirmations in the UI where available.
- Audit connected services:
- Inspect which third‑party services are linked to Copilot and periodically remove or reauthorize links. Use separate accounts or payment methods for testing if you’re cautious.
- Configure privacy and training options:
- Copilot offers privacy toggles; disable model training/sharing if you need to minimize data leaving the device or Microsoft’s cloud in enterprise settings. Microsoft documents privacy and model training settings for Copilot installs and suggests admin controls for managed environments.
- Evaluate Copilot Pro only if you need priority model access:
- The $20/month Copilot Pro plan provides priority model access during peak times, extra image boosts and early features. For heavy users of image generation or those who need model reliability during busy periods, the subscription can be justified; casual users should weigh incremental value carefully. (microsoft.com, searchengineland.com)
- Test on non‑sensitive data:
- Do a few trial runs with non‑sensitive files and mock bookings to confirm behavior and understand the confirmation flows. This helps reveal where Copilot might default to undesired choices.
Developer, partner and enterprise implications
- For developers and service owners, the extension model offers a new distribution channel: integrating into Copilot can surface your service via natural language prompts. That said, APIs and partner onboarding matter — expect Microsoft to enforce security, authentication, and data handling policies for partners.
- Enterprises should prepare governance: identity policies, consent workflows, and audit trails will be required to prevent automated agents from making unauthorized changes.
- For ISVs building Windows apps, Copilot’s “settings” and “Click to Do” expansions show Microsoft is planning a deeper OS‑wide automation architecture; integrating with these pathways may be a future route to better discoverability or productivity hooks.
What remains unclear or unverifiable today
- Full partner list and the timing for every extension: Microsoft’s announcements showcase initial partners (OpenTable, Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, Shopify) but the precise global rollouts and localizations remain phased and market‑dependent. The evergreen rollout note indicates availability expands “in the coming weeks and months,” so expect regional variance. (theverge.com, blogs.windows.com)
- Exact enterprise control surface: Microsoft has signaled admin controls but the final enterprise management surface (group policies, Intune templates, audit logs for agent‑driven changes) will evolve. Administrators should verify controls in their test environments as features reach their tenant. (support.microsoft.com)
- The level of local vs cloud processing per action: Microsoft documents a hybrid model for Copilot+ devices but does not publish a per‑feature data‑flow matrix. For highly sensitive environments, assume cloud involvement unless a feature explicitly documents on‑device processing. (learn.microsoft.com)
Roadmap signals and what to watch next
- Expansion of Action partners and language/market coverage — Microsoft will add more integrations and expand the geography of availability over time. Watch partner announcements and Windows update notes.
- Broader Copilot+ hardware support — from Qualcomm to Intel/AMD NPUs; Microsoft has signaled broader Copilot+ support will come to more devices after initial launches. (learn.microsoft.com)
- Enterprise governance tooling — expect new Group Policy and Intune controls to manage agent permissions and logging as organizations pilot Copilot capabilities.
- Continued creative tooling improvements across Photos, Clipchamp and Paint — the trend is clear: Microsoft is folding generative and corrective AI into basic content apps and the Snipping Tool to reduce friction for everyday tasks. (blogs.windows.com, clipchamp.com)
Bottom line
Microsoft’s Copilot updates represent a significant push to make AI not just a question‑answering companion but a doer inside Windows and across the web. The new extensions (Actions) and the system settings skill set deliver real convenience, and the media improvements in Photos and Clipchamp answer long‑standing editor pain points. However, this increased capability amplifies the need for careful privacy, security, and governance controls — particularly when the assistant is authorized to act on external services or system settings. For users, the practical approach is pragmatic: pilot the features, use confirmations for transactions, and weigh the Copilot Pro subscription only if you need higher throughput, priority model access, or enhanced image generation credits. For IT teams, begin testing in controlled environments and map policies to the new conversational change vectors before broad deployment.Microsoft’s strategy is clear: fold AI into the OS so Copilot becomes the primary way many people search, configure, and act on their Windows machines. The result will be faster workflows for many users — and a new set of questions for IT and privacy teams to answer as agents gain the ability to do things for us rather than just tell us how to do them. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com, microsoft.com)
Source: Mashdigi Microsoft updates Windows 11's Copilot service, allowing you to use extensions and set up your computer more intuitively
