Copilot for Windows Adds Semantic File Search on Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft’s Copilot on Windows has been reborn yet again, this time with a redesigned home dashboard and the addition of conversational, semantic file search — features rolling out to Windows Insiders now, with advanced on‑device behavior limited to Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs. (blogs.windows.com)

Background / Overview​

Microsoft has iterated the Copilot experience on Windows multiple times since its original introduction: from a sidebar helper to a PWA wrapper, then a quick‑view bottom‑center popup and, most recently, a native desktop‑style app. The latest update swaps the Copilot app’s simple chat field for a purpose‑built home dashboard that surfaces recent files, apps and conversations, and it ties in Vision‑powered “get guided help” sessions. The update is distributed through the Microsoft Store as Copilot app builds starting with version 1.25082.132.0 and is currently being delivered as a staged Insider preview. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com)
At the same time, Microsoft is extending the company’s Copilot+ program — a hardware‑gated set of features that depend on on‑device Neural Processing Units (NPUs) — by bringing semantic file search into the Copilot app. On Copilot+ certified machines, Copilot can now accept natural language queries such as “find images of bridges at sunset on my PC” or “find the file with the chicken tostada recipe,” and return relevant files by matching meaning rather than exact filenames. That search capability relies on a semantic index and, when eligible, local inference on an NPU. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com)

---

What changed: new home dashboard and semantic search​

The redesigned Copilot home — what you’ll see​

• A compact, dashboard‑style home screen that highlights recent apps, recent files, and recent conversations inside the Copilot app.
• A left‑pane file list (sourced from Windows’ standard “Recent” surface) where clicking a file uploads it into the Copilot chat for summarization, object recognition, or follow‑up Q&A.
• A “get guided help with your apps” section; clicking an app begins a Vision session so Copilot can inspect the visible app window and offer contextual guidance or step‑by‑step help.
• Decorative changes such as a photo background on the home screen (echoing Bing and Edge styling) and shortcuts to frequently used apps.

The homepage is designed to make Copilot a starting point for tasks rather than just a chat box, folding recent context into the assistant so it can act on what you were already doing. Microsoft frames the integration as explicit and permissioned: Copilot surfaces recently used local files but does not automatically upload or scan your entire drive without user action. (blogs.windows.com)

Semantic file search — what it does and where it runs​

• Semantic file search lets you use natural language to locate documents and images on your PC by matching meaning and visual descriptors rather than relying only on filenames or literal text matches inside files.
• Example prompts Microsoft has showcased include “find my CV,” “find images of bridges at sunset,” and “find the file with the chicken tostada recipe.”
• The feature is initially limited to Copilot+ PCs — Windows devices certified for on‑device AI acceleration (machines with dedicated NPUs capable of heavier local inference). Microsoft’s preview materials emphasize NPUs in the 40+ TOPS class as an enabling class for the richest on‑device behavior, although certification details are managed through the Copilot+ program and may vary by OEM. (blogs.windows.com)

Semantic search creates and queries a meaning‑aware index — embeddings and image descriptors — in addition to traditional lexical indexes. That allows nearest‑neighbor retrieval (vector search) to pull files that match conceptually with your query rather than requiring an exact filename or a precise string inside a document. In Copilot chats, returned files can be attached to the conversation for the assistant to summarize or analyze. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com)

---

Why this matters: productivity gains and UX signals​

The Copilot redesign and semantic search are meaningful for three practical reasons:

• Fewer clicks, faster recoverability. Describing what you remember about a file — a concept, a scene in a photo, or a line of content — is usually faster than reconstructing a filename or drilling through folders. Semantic search closes that gap by allowing human phrasing to be mapped to relevant results. (blogs.windows.com)
• Contextual assistance without leaving your workflow. By surfacing recent apps, files and conversations, Copilot aims to reduce context‑switching costs. The Vision session that inspects an app window to offer guided help is a natural progression of Copilot Vision features already previewed earlier this year. That can be especially helpful for troubleshooting or step‑by‑step tasks that are normally solved with search and documentation. (blogs.windows.com, tomshardware.com)
• On‑device AI for speed and privacy. Running inference locally on an NPU reduces latency and can preserve privacy surface by limiting cloud round‑trips for routine semantic queries. Microsoft explicitly frames Copilot+ PCs as an on‑device acceleration pathway that enables offline responsiveness for semantic search and other advanced AI tasks. That tradeoff — higher local capability for lower latency and less cloud dependency — is one of the consistent design decisions that Microsoft has doubled down on. (blogs.windows.com, tomshardware.com)

---

Technical snapshot: how semantic file search works (high level)​

The two‑index model​

• Traditional Windows Search remains in place for lexical/filename matches.
• A new semantic index stores vector embeddings for document text and descriptors for images (OCRed text, object labels, visual features). Queries are converted into vectors and compared using nearest‑neighbor search to find semantically similar files.

On‑device inference and NPUs​

• Copilot+ PCs run the heavy lifting (embedding generation, neural network inference) locally on an NPU. Microsoft has referenced NPUs in the 40+ TOPS range as representative of the class of hardware that unlocks local inference without cloud fallback.
• On non‑Copilot+ machines, semantic search may rely on cloud assistance or be limited to lexical search; Microsoft’s staged rollout and feature gating mean behavior differs by device. (blogs.windows.com)

File types, scope and permission model​

• Supported file formats at preview include common document types (.docx, .pdf, .pptx, .xlsx, .txt) and standard image formats (.jpg/.jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp). Upload compatibility for chat attachments includes .png, .jpeg, .svg, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx, .csv, .json and .txt. (blogs.windows.com)
• The Copilot app surfaces files from Windows’ “Recent” list and indexed locations by default. Copilot does not silently upload or scan the entire system; explicit attachment or permission settings are required before Copilot can process file contents. Microsoft says permissions are controllable in Copilot Settings. (blogs.windows.com)

---

Strengths: what Microsoft got right​

• Intent‑first search addresses a real, persistent user problem: remembering what you saw or did is far easier than remembering where or what it was named. Semantic retrieval is a natural fit for personal file discovery.
• Integrated workflow — combining recent files + app‑aware Vision guidance + chat — reduces friction. The entry point is sensible: put things you were actively working on right inside the assistant so Copilot can act on them instead of requiring users to move context manually between windows and the chat.
• Privacy‑minded engineering with on‑device inference (for Copilot+ PCs) is an important differentiation. When it works, local execution reduces round‑trips and provides clearer boundaries around what data leaves the device.
• Staged Insider rollout and gated hardware reflect a cautious deployment strategy: Microsoft is gathering feedback from Insiders before broadening availability, which helps catch regressions and compatibility issues early. (blogs.windows.com, tomshardware.com)

---

Risks and tradeoffs: practical and privacy considerations​

• Hardware divide and fragmentation. By gating the richest semantics to Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft creates a capability gap across the Windows ecosystem. Users on older hardware or non‑Copilot devices will not get parity — at least initially — and enterprises with heterogeneous fleets must plan for mixed experiences. This hardware‑tiering could drive upgrade demand, but it could also frustrate users and admins who expect platform consistency. (blogs.windows.com, windowscentral.com)
• Index scope surprises. Although Microsoft’s messaging stresses explicit user control, semantic indexing necessarily requires creating and storing vectorized representations of file content. Administrators and privacy‑conscious users will want to confirm where those representations are stored (local disk, encrypted store, cloud fallback), retention windows, and which locations are included by default. Misconfigured index scopes or opt‑out confusion could surface sensitive data in ways users did not expect. Flag any such assumptions and validate indexing settings in Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows. (blogs.windows.com)
• False positives and ranking errors. Semantic retrieval improves recall for concept matches, but it can also return false positives or rank irrelevant documents higher than strictly relevant ones. Users used to precise filename matches may find some results noisy until the models and indexing are refined. Expect iterative tuning and reliance on ranking signals (file recency, application context, user behavior) to improve precision. (theverge.com)
• Enterprise governance and compliance. Organizations that enforce strict data residency or content access controls will need to assess how semantic indexing interacts with file classification, DLP (Data Loss Prevention) tools, and endpoint policies. Where Copilot can read or summarize files, IT teams should validate compatibility with internal compliance rules before enabling broad use. (blogs.windows.com)

---

How to try it now (Insider checklist)​

• Join the Windows Insider Program and set your device to an Insider channel that receives the staged Copilot update.
• Update the Microsoft Store and install Copilot app updates so you have Copilot app version 1.25082.132.0 or higher.
• If you have a Copilot+ PC (NPU‑equipped), confirm Copilot+ certification and check Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows to review indexed locations.
• In Copilot, look for the new home dashboard; test queries such as:
• “Find images of bridges at sunset on my PC”
• “Find my CV”
• “Find the file with the chicken tostada recipe”
• Only attach files to Copilot you want processed; verify Copilot Settings to confirm permission scopes.

These steps are drawn from Microsoft’s Insider guidance and the staged rollout approach; not every Insider will see all features immediately because Microsoft gates distribution by feature flags, device checks and region. (blogs.windows.com)

---

Practical tips for users and admins​

• For end users:
• Review the Copilot permissions UI before attaching sensitive documents.
• Limit the search index scope to folders you trust (use Windows’ Searching Windows settings).
• Give feedback from inside the Copilot app if results are noisy — this helps Microsoft tune ranking and model behavior.
• For IT administrators:
• Evaluate whether Copilot features comply with corporate data policies before enabling them broadly.
• Test on non‑production devices to validate index scope, encryption, and any potential DLP interactions.
• Update endpoint management documentation and training to reflect new semantics‑driven discovery flows.
• Monitor feature rollout and Microsoft’s guidance; staged Insider flights mean behavior can change as the preview matures. (blogs.windows.com, tomshardware.com)

---

How this fits into Microsoft’s larger Copilot strategy​

Copilot’s evolution — a multi‑year progression from sidebar helper to a full system‑level assistant with hardware‑accelerated features — shows Microsoft’s intent to make AI a first‑class aspect of Windows. The Copilot+ program ties software innovation to silicon capability, and features like Recall, Click to Do, Copilot Vision and now semantic file search are all part of that roadmap. Microsoft’s approach blends on‑device acceleration (for latency and privacy) with cloud enhancements when necessary, which mirrors the broader industry wave toward hybrid AI (edge + cloud). (tomshardware.com, wsj.com)
That said, this path introduces complexity: multiple Copilot variants, hardware gating, staged rollouts and varying feature sets across devices. For everyday users, the experience will gradually smooth out; for IT and power users, it raises important governance and upgrade questions.

---

Independent corroboration and verification​

Multiple independent outlets and Microsoft’s official Insider blog confirm the principal points of this redesign and the semantic search rollout:

• Microsoft’s Windows Insider blog documents the Copilot app update, the new home experience and the semantic file search feature; it lists supported file types and languages and confirms the staged Microsoft Store rollout to Insiders. (blogs.windows.com)
• The Verge and other tech outlets reported the augmented file‑search behavior and the redesigned homepage for Insiders, corroborating Microsoft’s examples (for instance, searching for “the chicken tostada recipe”). (theverge.com)
• Earlier Insider posts and Microsoft previews describe the Copilot+ hardware gating and the use of NPUs for on‑device semantic indexing — including the 40+ TOPS guidance for devices that can run local inference efficiently. Tom’s Hardware, Windows Central and other outlets have reported on the same Copilot+ program and the tradeoffs of hardware gating. (blogs.windows.com, tomshardware.com)

Where claims were ambiguous (for example, exact NPU certification thresholds, long‑term data retention policies for the semantic index, and timeline for AMD/Intel Copilot+ support), public Microsoft documentation notes those topics are managed through the Copilot+ certification program and will evolve; those items should be considered provisional until Microsoft publishes final, device‑specific certification details. (blogs.windows.com)

---

Final assessment — practical verdict for Windows users​

Microsoft’s latest Copilot on Windows update is a pragmatic step toward making AI genuinely helpful in everyday PC tasks. The new home dashboard reduces friction by presenting context up front, and semantic file search—when it works well—solves a real, recurring pain point: finding what you remember but can’t name. For users on Copilot+ PCs, the on‑device semantic model promises speed and a tighter privacy envelope. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com)
However, the update is a cautious preview: it’s gated to Insiders and advanced hardware, indexing behaviors are complex and require careful configuration, and enterprises must evaluate compliance implications before broad adoption. Expect iterative improvements as Microsoft gathers Insider feedback and broadens hardware support — and plan for a phased roll‑out in managed environments. (blogs.windows.com, tomshardware.com)

---

Quick reference — what to watch next​

• Whether Microsoft expands Copilot+ certification to a broader range of NPUs and the timeline for AMD and Intel Copilot+ parity. (blogs.windows.com)
• How Microsoft documents storage, retention, and encryption of semantic index artifacts (vectors, image descriptors). (blogs.windows.com)
• Precision and ranking improvements: user reports and Microsoft tuning will determine whether semantic search is a quick productivity win or an occasional source of noise. (theverge.com)

Microsoft is clearly betting that a combination of conversational UI, on‑device inference, and integrated Vision flows will change how people interact with their PCs — turning Copilot from a passive chatbox into a context‑aware productivity layer. The current release makes that future feel more tangible, while also reminding users and administrators to inspect privacy settings, indexing scope, and device eligibility before assuming everything will “just work.” (blogs.windows.com, tomshardware.com)
The Copilot app update is live for Windows Insiders in staged form; watch for the public rollout and accompanying documentation as Microsoft refines the feature set. (blogs.windows.com, windowscentral.com)

---

Source: How-To Geek Copilot on Windows Just Got a Redesign, Again

Microsoft has begun quietly testing a major upgrade to Copilot on Windows that brings semantic, natural‑language file and image search directly into the Copilot app — gated initially to Copilot+ hardware and rolling out to Windows Insiders via the Microsoft Store in a staged release. (blogs.windows.com)

Background​

Microsoft has been steadily folding AI deeper into Windows over the past year under the Copilot and Copilot+ initiatives. The goal has been to move beyond literal, filename‑based lookups and into meaning‑aware retrieval: systems that understand intent, context, and visual content to locate what users actually mean when they type or speak queries. Early previews of on‑device semantic search, Copilot Vision, and other Copilot+ features appeared in Insider flights earlier in 2025; the latest Copilot app update formalizes semantic file search inside the Copilot application itself. (blogs.windows.com)
This update to the Copilot app (noted in Insider channels as version 1.25082.132.0 and higher) bundles two visible changes: the semantic file search capability and a redesigned Copilot home that surfaces recent apps, files, and conversation history, with quick access to Vision‑driven guided help. The rollout is staged and feature‑flagged, meaning not every Insider will see the features immediately. (blogs.windows.com, neowin.net)

---

What’s new: semantic file search, condensed​

• Natural‑language queries: You can now ask Copilot to find files using conversational phrases — e.g., “find my CV” or “find images of bridges at sunset on my PC” — instead of relying on exact filenames or single keywords. (blogs.windows.com)
• Image and document descriptors: The system leverages image descriptors and semantic text embeddings so visuals and content can be matched to descriptive queries, not just literal text. (blogs.windows.com)
• Permissions and explicit upload: Copilot surfaces only recently opened files by referencing the Windows “Recent” folder; it does not automatically upload or send files off‑device unless you explicitly attach them to a Copilot chat or grant access in settings. Permissions for what Copilot can access, retrieve, or read are exposed in Copilot Settings. (blogs.windows.com)
• Hardware gating — Copilot+ PCs: The richest semantic experiences are currently limited to Copilot+ PCs — machines with dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) rated at the required performance tier (Microsoft has highlighted NPUs capable of 40+ TOPS in its Copilot+ materials). The initial availability skews toward Snapdragon‑powered systems with broader AMD/Intel Copilot+ support to follow. (microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)

How semantic file search works (technical overview)​

Semantic indexing and vector retrieval​

Microsoft is building a secondary, meaning‑aware index alongside Windows’ traditional file index. Documents and compatible images are processed into vector embeddings and descriptive metadata; queries are also converted into vectors so the engine can perform nearest‑neighbor retrieval by meaning rather than pure string matching. This is the same underlying approach used by many modern semantic search systems. (blogs.windows.com)

On‑device inference and NPUs​

When Copilot+ hardware is present, heavy inference runs locally on the device’s NPU. That reduces latency, enables offline responsiveness for many queries, and reduces the need to send content to the cloud for routine semantic lookups. Microsoft’s Copilot+ documentation and Insider notes specifically call out on‑device execution for performance and privacy reasons. Public preview materials reference NPUs with approximately 40+ TOPS as the class of hardware that unlocks the richest on‑device behavior, though exact OEM certification thresholds and implementation details may vary. This TOPS figure appears in Microsoft guidance and preview posts but is a general performance reference rather than an absolute, published hardware certification cutoff. (microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)

File scope, formats, and language support​

At preview launch, semantic file search primarily targets files in indexed locations and the Windows “Recent” surface. Supported formats for file reading and uploads include common document and image types — examples called out by Microsoft include .docx, .pdf, .pptx, .xlsx, .txt for documents and .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp for images, with certain upload compatibility for chat (e.g., .png, .jpeg, .svg, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx, .csv, .json, .txt). Microsoft also lists optimization for a small set of languages (English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, Spanish) at preview rollouts. Expect support to broaden in later flights. (blogs.windows.com)

---

The redesigned Copilot home: more than search​

The new Copilot home aggregates recent apps, files, and conversations in a single landing surface. Two practical flows stand out:

• Get guided help with Vision: Clicking a recent app can initiate a Copilot Vision session. Copilot can scan the app window (with permission), interpret the UI or content, and offer contextual guidance or step‑by‑step assistance. This tight coupling of Vision and guided help is aimed at troubleshooting and learning tasks. (blogs.windows.com)
• Attach recent files quickly: Clicking a recent file uploads it into the Copilot chat, where the assistant can summarize the document, identify objects in images, or answer follow‑up questions about the content. Upload is explicit and governed by permissions — the act of uploading grants Copilot permission to process that file. (blogs.windows.com, neowin.net)

These UI changes are designed to shorten the path from noticing a problem (or needing a file) to letting Copilot act on the context, reducing friction for everyday tasks.

---

Availability, rollout, and versioning​

• The Copilot app update referenced in Microsoft’s Insider announcement is version 1.25082.132.0 and higher and is being distributed via the Microsoft Store to Windows Insiders across channels. The company explicitly described this as a staged rollout controlled by feature flags, hardware checks, and regional gating. (blogs.windows.com, neowin.net)
• Semantic file search at preview launch is limited to Copilot+ PCs — those devices that meet Microsoft’s NPU performance guidance and are certified for Copilot+ experiences. The staged rollout favors Snapdragon Copilot+ systems initially, with AMD and Intel Copilot+ devices slated to follow as OEMs validate hardware and drivers. (blogs.windows.com, microsoft.com)
• Insiders should expect a phased arrival: not everyone will see the update simultaneously. Feedback channels inside the Copilot app and the Insider Feedback Hub remain Microsoft’s designated feedback paths. (blogs.windows.com)

---

Privacy, permissions, and the enforcement model​

Microsoft emphasizes several guardrails intended to limit inadvertent exposure of personal files:

• Local indexing and Recent folder: Copilot surfaces files from the standard Windows “Recent” folder by default; it does not quietly scan and upload the entire disk. This limits the immediate surface of files shown to the assistant. (blogs.windows.com)
• Explicit attach = explicit permission: Uploading a file into Copilot’s chat grants permission for Copilot to process that file. Unless a user performs that explicit action, the file content is not shared. (blogs.windows.com)
• Settings controls: Copilot Settings expose permissions for what Copilot can access, retrieve, or read. Administrators and users can restrict indexed locations or opt out of features. Microsoft’s guidance points admins to familiar Windows index settings and Copilot permission toggles. (blogs.windows.com)
• On‑device processing: For Copilot+ PCs, the system routes heavy inference to local NPUs to reduce cloud exposure for routine semantic queries — an architectural choice promoted for privacy and latency reasons. However, some Copilot functions will still rely on cloud services for certain tasks or more advanced model capabilities; users and admins should treat on‑device processing as a mitigation, not an absolute guarantee of zero cloud interaction. (microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)

Cautionary note: while Microsoft’s preview messaging is clear that nothing is uploaded unless explicitly permitted, the interplay of local indexing, Vision sessions (which capture screen content), and optional features like Recall (in other previews) mean careful configuration and policy review are required in privacy‑sensitive environments. Administrators should test controls in their environment and confirm telemetry/diagnostics behavior before broad deployment. (microsoft.com, tomshardware.com)

---

Usability: strengths and practical limits​

Notable strengths​

• Intent‑first discovery: The biggest practical win is time saved when users cannot recall exact filenames or locations. Natural phrasing reduces cognitive overhead and accelerates workflows for office users, students, and anyone with a large, unstructured file library. Early coverage and previews report meaningful improvements in retrieval for everyday file types. (computerworld.com, neowin.net)
• Local, low‑latency responses on Copilot+ PCs: On NPU‑equipped systems, semantic queries return quickly and often work offline, which addresses two long‑standing pain points for AI assistants. (blogs.windows.com)
• Integrated file actions: The ability to upload, summarize, and query files directly within the Copilot chat eliminates repetitive open‑read‑close cycles and can speed tasks like extracting numbers, pulling quotes, or finding images. (blogs.windows.com)

Practical limits and friction points​

• Hardware gating restricts reach: By coupling the richest experiences to Copilot+ NPUs, many existing PCs will not see full semantic search initially. This will likely fragment the user experience across organizations and households while OEMs issue Copilot+ certifications and drivers catch up. (blogs.windows.com)
• Index scope matters: Semantic search operates against indexed locations; if users rely on non‑indexed folders or third‑party storage not captured in Windows Search, results will be incomplete. OneDrive and broader cloud integrations are planned but not guaranteed at preview launch. (blogs.windows.com)
• File type coverage: The feature focuses on mainstream document and image types; niche or proprietary formats used by developers and specialized software may not be supported. Users who depend on those types should not expect semantic search to replace domain‑specific search tools. (blogs.windows.com)

---

Security and enterprise implications​

• Data governance and compliance: Enterprises must validate where semantic indexing stores descriptors, how long metadata persists, and whether any telemetry is exported. Microsoft’s on‑device processing reduces cloud exposure, but organizations with strict data residency or compliance requirements should run controlled pilots and consult Microsoft’s enterprise guidance. (microsoft.com, tomshardware.com)
• Least privilege and settings: IT policies should enforce minimum indexing scopes, disable features that are not required, and educate users about explicit upload mechanics. Role‑based controls and Group Policy/MDM enrollments will be essential for controlled rollouts. (blogs.windows.com)
• Vision and screen capture risk: Vision sessions that inspect app windows can be powerful for help, but they also raise the risk of sharing sensitive screen content. Enterprises should restrict Vision/Recall features where necessary and confirm that any temporary artifacts are protected by hardware encryption and Windows Hello protections as Microsoft documents. (tomshardware.com, microsoft.com)

---

How this compares to existing search tools​

• Versus classic Windows Search: The semantic index complements — not replaces — the traditional index. It adds meaning matching and image descriptors on top of filename and full‑text lookups, closing the gap users feel when they can’t recall exact words. (blogs.windows.com)
• Versus third‑party tools (Everything, Spotlight, specialized code searchers): Dedicated tools remain superior for raw speed (e.g., Everything’s filename index) or for specialized codebase queries. Copilot’s advantage is conversational context and integrated action (summarize, extract, guided help) — valuable for productivity but not a universal replacement for all search scenarios. (computerworld.com)

---

Practical tips for Insiders and IT admins​

• Check Copilot app version in the Microsoft Store — look for 1.25082.132.0 or higher if you want the preview features. (blogs.windows.com)
• Review Copilot Settings > Permissions to understand what Copilot can access and to limit indexing locations. (blogs.windows.com)
• For Copilot+ behavior, confirm your device’s NPU capability and OEM Copilot+ certification; Snapdragon‑based systems are prioritized in the initial rollout. (blogs.windows.com, microsoft.com)
• Pilot the feature with a small user group, audit telemetry and upload behavior, and validate that any automated indexing or previewing aligns with corporate policy. (blogs.windows.com)

---

Risks, unknowns, and what to watch​

• Exact NPU certification details: Microsoft references 40+ TOPS NPUs in Copilot+ materials, but the precise certification criteria and OEM implementation may vary; organizations should verify with device vendors and Microsoft documentation. Treat the TOPS number as a performance guideline rather than a rigid hardware requirement published as a spec sheet. (microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)
• Scope creep of automation: Features that can “peek inside” files or screens are convenient but can expand permission creep if defaults are not conservative. Vigilant defaults and clear user prompts are essential. (blogs.windows.com)
• Dependence on indexing quality: The user experience is only as good as the underlying index. Slow or incomplete indexing will degrade semantic results and may produce inconsistent behavior across devices. Administrators should check index settings and educate users about how to extend indexing when needed. (blogs.windows.com)
• Cloud fallbacks and telemetry: Microsoft emphasizes on‑device inference on Copilot+ PCs, but some functions will still depend on cloud services. The exact fallbacks and what metadata is transmitted will be important to verify for security‑sensitive deployments. (microsoft.com)

---

Verdict and outlook​

This Copilot update is a noteworthy step in making day‑to‑day file discovery feel intuitive. For users who frequently lose track of documents or photos, semantic file search promises real, measurable productivity gains. On NPU‑equipped Copilot+ PCs, the ability to run inference locally adds both responsiveness and a material privacy benefit relative to cloud‑only assistants. Early reporting and Microsoft’s own Insider notes align on the core details: the experience is real, gated, and still maturing. (blogs.windows.com, theverge.com)
However, the launch is intentionally cautious: feature flags, hardware gating, and a narrow initial file scope temper expectations. Enterprises will need to evaluate privacy controls, indexing scope, and device compatibility before broad adoption. For typical consumers, the experience will arrive in bursts as OEMs and Microsoft expand the Copilot+ ecosystem and refine language and file coverage. (neowin.net, blogs.windows.com)

---

Final thoughts​

Semantic file search inside the Copilot app is the logical next step in transforming Windows from a file‑system UI into a conversation‑capable productivity surface. The practical benefits are clear: faster discovery, integrated document actions, and the convenience of describing what you want in plain English. The technical tradeoffs are equally clear: hardware gating, indexing dependencies, and the need for conservative privacy defaults.
For Insiders and IT teams, the near‑term work is straightforward: test, validate, and configure. For the rest of us, the promise is simple: soon you’ll be more likely to find the thing you mean to find — not the thing you remember naming. (blogs.windows.com)

---

Source: PCWorld Microsoft tests AI-powered file search in Windows 11 with Copilot

Microsoft’s Copilot for Windows is taking another decisive step from assistant to workplace hub by adding a semantic file search capability to the Copilot app and rebuilding its home surface into an action-focused dashboard — currently rolling out to Windows Insiders and gated to Copilot+ PCs with on-device neural acceleration. This update, delivered in Copilot app builds beginning with version 1.25082.132.0, lets users ask natural‑language queries like “find my CV” or “show images of bridges at sunset,” and returns matches by meaning rather than by literal filenames or single-keyword matches. (blogs.windows.com)

Background / Overview​

Microsoft has steadily reworked Copilot from a chat-first sidebar into a system-level assistant woven through Windows' search surfaces, File Explorer, and UI flows. The August preview — announced on the Windows Insider Blog — packages two visible changes: a semantic file search engine inside the Copilot app and a redesigned Copilot home that surfaces recent apps, files, and guided Vision-driven help flows. Those features are being distributed as a staged Insider rollout through the Microsoft Store and are hardware-gated: the deepest, on-device semantics run only on certified Copilot+ PCs. (blogs.windows.com) (blogs.windows.com)
Why this matters now: file discovery remains a chronic productivity sink for professionals and power users. Traditional Windows Search relies on filenames, metadata, and full‑text indexes — brittle when memory of a file’s title or folder is fuzzy. A meaning‑aware index answers descriptive queries (concepts, visual attributes, or intent) and ties search results directly into Copilot chat for summary, extraction, or further analysis — collapsing discovery and action into a single flow.

---

What Microsoft shipped in the August Insider preview​

Semantic file search — concrete capabilities​

• Natural‑language file and image queries inside the Copilot app: describe what you remember and Copilot converts that into a search embedding to retrieve semantically similar files. Microsoft’s preview lists examples such as “find my cv,” “find the file with the chicken tostada recipe,” and “find images of bridges at sunset.” (blogs.windows.com)
• Inline preview and follow-up actions: search results appear in the Copilot chat or home pane; clicking a result lets you preview or upload the file to the Copilot chat for summarization, object recognition (Vision), or Q&A. (blogs.windows.com)
• File types supported at preview for uploads and processing include common documents and images (.png, .jpeg/.jpg, .svg, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx, .csv, .json, .txt), with the semantic index targeting standard document and image formats like .docx, .pdf, .pptx, .xlsx, .txt and image types .jpg/.jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp. (blogs.windows.com)

Redesigned Copilot home​

The Copilot app’s homepage is now a compact dashboard focused on recent context:

• Left pane: recent files sourced from Windows’ standard “Recent” folder (click to upload into Copilot chat).
• Center: recent apps and conversations.
• “Get guided help”: launch a Copilot Vision session on a selected app window to receive step‑by‑step guidance or contextual help. (blogs.windows.com)

This design shifts Copilot from passive responder to an active workspace starter, letting users move from “find” to “do” with fewer context switches. Independent press coverage and Insider forum commentary emphasize that this combination — recent context + Vision + chat workflows — is the primary UX differentiator of the update. (neowin.net, theverge.com)

---

Under the hood: how semantic file search works​

Two-index architecture: lexical + semantic​

Microsoft layers a semantic index on top of the classic Windows indexer. The classic index handles lexical searches (filenames, literal matches). The semantic layer stores vector embeddings for document text and image descriptors (including OCRed text and object labels) so a natural‑language query is converted into an embedding and matched against nearest‑neighbor vectors for semantic similarity. This permits results that don’t contain the query’s literal words but match the user’s intent or visual description. (blogs.windows.com)

On‑device inference and the NPU​

Where available, Copilot’s semantic processing runs on the device’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU) on certified Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft and its documentation cite the NPU performance class used to enable the richest local behaviors — “40+ TOPS” (trillions of operations per second) — as the practical ballpark for enabling offline, low-latency semantic indexing and vision inference. Running inference on an NPU reduces round trips to the cloud, lowers latency, and narrows the privacy surface for routine queries. (microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)
Caveat and verification: the “40+ TOPS” figure appears repeatedly in Microsoft Insider posts and Copilot+ marketing materials as a representative performance class, but hardware TOPS vary by vendor and SoC configuration; readers should consult OEM specifications for exact NPU topology on any Copilot+ device. This is a critical verification step for IT procurement and for privacy‑sensitive deployments. (microsoft.com)

Languages, formats, and indexed scope​

At preview, semantic matching is optimized for select languages (English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, Spanish) and for files stored in Windows‑indexed or “Recent” locations. Microsoft has explicitly limited default scope to recently accessed and indexed files to prevent Copilot from scanning or uploading entire disks without explicit user action. Administrators can expand index coverage via the Windows Search “Enhanced” indexing setting, but broader indexing increases local resource usage and surface area for Copilot processing. (blogs.windows.com)

---

Real-world workflows and productivity impact​

What users can do immediately​

• Recover lost work fast: ask Copilot conversationally for “the contract I edited in March” or “the budget report with unusual expenses,” then attach the matched file for summarization or to extract key figures without opening the source app.
• Visual search of large photo libraries: describe a scene (“photos of the lake at dusk with a canoe”) and get candidate images ranked by semantic and visual similarity; click an image and ask Copilot to identify objects or generate captions.
• Guided help and troubleshooting: from the Copilot home you can click an app in the “get guided help” area and start a Vision session; Copilot inspects the app window and provides contextual help or step‑by‑step instructions. This reduces the need to alt‑tab between documentation, screenshots, and chat windows. (blogs.windows.com)

Enterprise use-cases​

• Legal and compliance teams can use Copilot to surface potentially relevant documents faster during discovery or review tasks — provided policy checks and placement controls are in place.
• Financial analysts can ask for “spreadsheets with anomalies” to seed follow‑up analysis (Copilot can summarize or extract tables), potentially shortening reporting cycles.
• Researchers and academic staff who maintain large archives can rely on intent‑based matches to locate thematic materials across formats.

Important operational caveats for enterprises: Copilot’s richer behaviors are linked to device hardware certification (Copilot+ PCs). For organizations, this means rolling out semantic search broadly requires Copilot+ certified hardware or acceptance of cloud‑assisted fallbacks on non‑NPU devices. IT teams should pilot the capability with a small group, verify telemetry/retention policies, and revise acceptable‑use guidance before enabling enterprise-wide indexing expansions.

---

Privacy, permissions, and governance — the tradeoffs​

Microsoft’s messaging emphasizes a permissioned, local‑first design: Copilot surfaces recent files by referencing Windows’ “Recent” folder, and it won’t “scan your entire system” or upload files unless you explicitly attach them or permit broader indexing. That said, user actions (clicking to upload a file) intentionally grant Copilot permission to process content, and enabling “Enhanced” indexing or indexing additional folders increases the scope of items Copilot may evaluate locally. (blogs.windows.com)
Risk profile — what to watch for:

• Local caching and retention: Microsoft’s public posts indicate on‑device inference is preferred on Copilot+ PCs, but documentation across preview materials does not exhaustively detail ephemeral caching, telemetry retention, or enterprise logging for every scenario. Administrators should seek clarity from Microsoft documentation and test telemetry behavior in pilot groups before enabling semantic indexing broadly.
• Permission misunderstandings: users may assume “local” means “private by default.” Explicit uploads or broader indexing can expose sensitive data to any processing Copilot performs (local or cloud‑assisted). Train users to treat Copilot attachments like any other file sharing action. (blogs.windows.com)
• Hardware exclusivity and access inequality: gating the richest features to Copilot+ certified devices raises fairness and compatibility questions for mixed‑hardware fleets and independent users who don’t own NPU‑equipped machines.

Practical governance checklist for IT:

• Pilot with a small, non‑sensitive group and validate index scope and telemetry.
• Review and document retention and audit logs from Copilot and connected services.
• Publish guidance for users on when to attach sensitive files and when to rely on manual search.
• Limit “Enhanced” indexing to approved directories only and combine with DLP controls where applicable.

---

Hardware gating and the Copilot+ program: procurement implications​

Copilot+ PCs are Microsoft’s “on‑device AI” certified hardware class. The Copilot+ landing page and Insider documents explain that NPUs enable low‑latency neural inference and list NPU use cases like Live Captions, Recall, Click to Do, and semantic search. Microsoft positions NPUs with “40+ TOPS” as the performance class that unlocks the richest experiences; OEMs and SoC vendors (Qualcomm initially, with AMD and Intel follow-ups) are responsible for meeting certification thresholds. For procurement teams, the implication is clear: to guarantee the local semantics and privacy benefits Microsoft touts, organizations must acquire certified Copilot+ devices or accept degraded/capped behavior on non‑Copilot+ hardware. (microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)
Vendor differences and verification:

• Snapdragon‑based Copilot+ hardware appears to be the initial focus in previews, with AMD and Intel plans described as phased. IT teams should confirm which specific SKUs and firmware versions an OEM lists as Copilot+ certified before large purchases. Public TOPS claims are helpful heuristics but aren’t a substitute for vendor certification details.

---

How Microsoft’s approach compares with rivals​

Copilot’s semantic file search is a visible push to embed conversational, intent-aware search into the OS itself — not just a single app. Comparisons across platforms show a nuanced landscape:

• Apple Spotlight has been gaining natural‑language and action‑oriented capabilities (iOS and macOS updates in 2024–2025 added semantic capabilities and actionability), and macOS Tahoe introduced Spotlight enhancements that perform actions and integrate with Apple Intelligence. However, Apple’s work has focused on developer-provided content indexing and app integration rather than a hardware-gated NPU strategy at scale. (techcrunch.com)
• Google has invested heavily in AI‑augmented search and multimodal experiences (AI Mode, Lens, and Search Live), but those efforts are primarily web-centric or cloud-enabled; Google’s enterprise/desktop local file semantics are more fragmented and rely on separate products or services rather than a unified OS‑level Copilot experience. (blog.google)

Overall, Microsoft’s strength here is combining a system-level Copilot surface, on-device NPU acceleration when available, and a chat-driven workflow tying retrieval to analysis — an approach that currently outpaces typical desktop search tools in terms of integrated on-device semantics. That said, Apple and Google are narrowing the gap with their own semantic and action‑oriented updates, and third‑party specialist tools continue to offer focused features (deep video/audio indexing, or enterprise‑grade eDiscovery) that Copilot doesn’t fully replicate yet. Independent coverage and hands‑on reviews corroborate both the power and the current limits of Microsoft’s approach. (theverge.com, neowin.net, techcrunch.com)

---

Limitations, edge cases, and known constraints​

• Hardware gating: semantic search’s richest behaviors are limited to Copilot+ PCs. Non‑NPU devices may experience lexical or cloud‑assisted fallbacks, and Microsoft’s staged feature flags mean presence of the app update doesn’t guarantee the feature is enabled. (blogs.windows.com)
• Index scope and unsupported formats: encrypted archives, proprietary or uncommon file types, and many cloud‑only stores may not be covered in the preview. OneDrive and other cloud integration are indicated as future expansions, but at preview the feature focuses on local indexed files. (blogs.windows.com)
• Language and regional coverage: optimized languages at preview are limited; broader multilingual parity will be incremental. (blogs.windows.com)
• Visibility into model behavior: Microsoft documents the experience at a high level but doesn’t publish exhaustive telemetry or retention rules for every scenario in preview notes — this requires additional verification by administrators and security teams.

Flagged unverifiable claims: where public materials repeat specific TOPS numbers or performance claims (for example, exact ULP or throughput of an OEM’s NPU), those are vendor‑level assertions that should be validated against the OEM’s published silicon datasheets or independent benchmark testing. Treat “40+ TOPS” as a guidance threshold visible in Microsoft materials, not an absolute guarantee of behavior on every “40+ TOPS” device. (microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)

---

Recommended rollout and configuration best practices​

For IT admins and knowledgeable users planning to adopt Copilot’s semantic search:

• Pilot and measure: enable the preview only for a small group running Copilot+ certified devices; track index scope, CPU/NPU utilization, and user feedback.
• Permission policy: document when attachments are permissible, train users to use “Allow Once” vs “Always Allow,” and combine Copilot settings with data loss prevention (DLP) controls.
• Index management: only enable “Enhanced” indexing for approved directories; avoid indexing home folders containing sensitive PII without policy review.
• Hardware plan: if local-first inference and minimized cloud exposure are requirements, prioritize Copilot+ certified devices and verify OEM certification lists.
• Audit and retention: require Microsoft’s enterprise guidance and review telemetry to ensure model outputs, logs, and caches align with regulatory needs.

These steps align with Microsoft’s preview guidance and independent enterprise commentary: treat Copilot+ features like any staged OS capability and align deployment with policy and compliance requirements.

---

The path forward: integration, expansion, and what to expect​

Microsoft has signaled that Copilot’s semantic search and homepage redesign are the first visible steps in a broader strategy:

• Deeper OneDrive and cloud integration is planned for future flights so semantic search will extend beyond local indexed files.
• Wider Copilot+ hardware support (AMD and Intel Copilot+ models) will broaden access to on‑device inference.
• Expanded format, language, and enterprise controls are expected as the preview moves toward general availability. (blogs.windows.com)

Independent reviewers and early tester reports praise the productivity gains while urging caution around permissions and enterprise governance. The combination of a system-level Copilot, Vision capabilities, and a semantic index is compelling for task‑oriented users and professionals who frequently hunt for context across disparate documents and images. If Microsoft follows through on cross-platform and cloud integrations, Copilot may become the primary discovery and action surface in Windows. (neowin.net, theverge.com)

---

Final assessment — strengths, risks, and verdict​

Strengths

• Meaning-first search reduces friction and cuts time spent hunting for files. Early reports indicate real productivity gains for users with large or messy archives. (neowin.net)
• Integrated workflows (search → preview → upload → summarize) keep users in a single conversational surface and reduce context switching.
• On‑device inference on Copilot+ PCs promises low latency, offline capability, and a smaller privacy surface compared with cloud‑first approaches. Microsoft’s documentation consistently positions NPUs as core enablers. (microsoft.com, blogs.windows.com)

Risks and caveats

• Hardware exclusivity limits immediate reach; organizations and users without Copilot+ certified hardware will see uneven experiences.
• Permission complexity: users may inadvertently grant processing permissions to sensitive files — training and clear UI affordances are essential.
• Incomplete governance detail in preview documentation means administrators will want to verify telemetry, cache retention, and enterprise logging before wide adoption.

Verdict
This rollout is a meaningful advance in making Windows more conversational, context‑aware, and action‑centric — particularly for Copilot+ users who want low‑latency, private-ish inference on their devices. It’s a practical, incremental approach that marries vector search, vision, and chat workflows into an integrated experience. For enterprises, the feature is promising but requires careful pilot testing, explicit policies, and procurement alignment with Copilot+ certification goals. For consumers and power users, the update is a preview of a future where finding and acting on files is as simple as asking in plain English — provided you accept the current hardware and privacy tradeoffs. (blogs.windows.com, neowin.net)

---

In the near term, expect Microsoft to broaden hardware support, expand cloud integrations, and add enterprise controls — and expect competitors to accelerate similar integrations inside their platforms. The practical takeaway for IT leaders: treat Copilot semantic search like any emerging platform capability — pilot, measure, govern, and procure thoughtfully. (microsoft.com)

---

Source: WebProNews Microsoft Copilot Adds Semantic Search for Local Files on Windows