Microsoft has unveiled a significant addition for Windows 11 users: "Click to Do," an AI-powered productivity tool. Currently available for Windows Insiders running the latest Dev Channel build (build 26120.2415), this feature aims to take multitasking and user interaction with screen data to the next level. Let’s break it all down to understand how this feature fits into the growing ecosystem of Windows 11’s AI-driven tools, the current functionality, where it’s heading, and what it means for the broader productivity landscape.
First, you might be asking, “What does this snazzy new tool do?” "Click to Do" is not to be confused with Microsoft’s "To Do" app. Unlike the latter, which focuses on task management, Click to Do is designed to integrate intelligent actions into your typical workflow—helping users engage dynamically with content on their screens.
Here’s the promise: whatever you see on your display—be it a chunk of text, an image, or a hybrid—Click to Do lets you instantly interact with it. Think of it as an intuitive assistant baked right into your visual workspace. Powered by AI, it enables context-sensitive actions such as copying text, running a web search, or even erasing elements from an image.
But wait, let’s not skip ahead too much. Here’s the breakdown:
However, Microsoft has confirmed that AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs will support this feature in the future, although the timeline remains hazy.
Still, for now, if you’re itching to try this out and don’t have the Snapdragon X, you’re going to have to play the patience game.
What sets it apart from standard recognition software is this AI-infused ability to “read” the screen and instantly understand context. This includes:
Users can invoke Click to Do using shortcuts like:
This also marks another wave of hardware acceleration dependency, embracing specialized processors like Snapdragon X, a move resembling how gaming tends to segment based on GPUs. Users less inclined to stay on the bleeding edge might feel left behind—until these features roll out more widely.
Lastly, AI in personal computing will likely raise privacy considerations. As these tools analyze your screen data, albeit locally (or at least hopefully), those with reservations about screen content scanning may feel conflicted about adopting this feature. Transparency on how data is processed will be critical.
While its exclusivity to Copilot+ PCs might be a sticking point for the broader base, the feature’s modular, multitasking-centric ethos sets a compelling precedent. As updates refine Click to Do’s capabilities, expect it to become a staple of the everyday Windows experience—making today’s limitations feel like early growing pains.
What’s your take? Are tools like Click to Do the future of intuitive computing, or does locking it to high-tier processors make it feel out of reach for everyday users? Let us know how you see this shaping the Windows of tomorrow.
Source: Neowin Windows 11's new AI feature Click to Do is now available for testing
What Is "Click to Do"?
First, you might be asking, “What does this snazzy new tool do?” "Click to Do" is not to be confused with Microsoft’s "To Do" app. Unlike the latter, which focuses on task management, Click to Do is designed to integrate intelligent actions into your typical workflow—helping users engage dynamically with content on their screens.Here’s the promise: whatever you see on your display—be it a chunk of text, an image, or a hybrid—Click to Do lets you instantly interact with it. Think of it as an intuitive assistant baked right into your visual workspace. Powered by AI, it enables context-sensitive actions such as copying text, running a web search, or even erasing elements from an image.
But wait, let’s not skip ahead too much. Here’s the breakdown:
Current Features of Click to Do: A Quick Tour
As it stands, Click to Do offers users actions tailored to the type of data on the screen—text or images. Let me walk you through the nuts and bolts of what’s in store.For Text:
- Copy: Grab selected text and immediately send it to your clipboard.
- Web Search: Dive straight into a search engine to find more context on the selected text.
- Open Website: Recognize URLs and open them in a jiffy on your favorite browser.
- Send Email: Identify and draft emails to any highlighted email address in your email client of choice.
- Open with…: Choose an application to further process the selected text, whether for editing, saving, or something else entirely.
For Images:
- Copy: Snap the image to your clipboard for easy use elsewhere.
- Save As: Store your image in a location of your choosing.
- Share: Quickly spread the image across platforms or contacts.
- Open with…: Launch an image editing app or viewer of your choice.
- Visual Search with Bing: Use AI-backed visual recognition to identify objects or related content in the image.
- Blur Background (Photos App): Blur parts of the background directly within Microsoft Photos.
- Erase Objects (Photos App): Take unwanted elements out of your images.
- Remove Background (Paint App): Let Paint’s AI-powered magic simplify your image’s focus by cutting out the background.
Who Can Access It?
Here’s where things get narrow: Click to Do is a premium feature for Copilot+ PCs equipped with Snapdragon X processors. This hardware specificity suggests that the feature leans heavily on AI performance capabilities unique to the Snapdragon platform—an indicator of the shift to more specialized capabilities in PC ecosystems.However, Microsoft has confirmed that AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs will support this feature in the future, although the timeline remains hazy.
Still, for now, if you’re itching to try this out and don’t have the Snapdragon X, you’re going to have to play the patience game.
How Does It Work?
Click to Do essentially acts as an augmentation to Microsoft’s Copilot, the resident AI assistant in Windows 11’s armory. The feature uses advanced image and text recognition algorithms, likely tapping into models akin to those powering AI tools in Microsoft Paint, Photos, and Bing’s Visual Search.What sets it apart from standard recognition software is this AI-infused ability to “read” the screen and instantly understand context. This includes:
- Recognizing URLs, text snippets, email addresses, or locations within images.
- Providing contextual actions, such as editing or sending information.
Users can invoke Click to Do using shortcuts like:
- Win + Mouse Click
- Win + Q
- Print Screen
- Commands from utilities like the Snipping Tool
Future Updates: What to Expect
Microsoft has teased that "Click to Do" is only the beginning of what this AI powerhouse can offer. While the current toolkit is already packed with handy functionality, future updates will bring “even more intelligent text actions” to simplify and enhance user experience.Why Should You Care?
The tools you rely on to navigate your workflow evolve constantly—but "Click to Do" marks a unique moment for Windows. It’s significant for three reasons:- Efficiency: Multitasking often involves switching back and forth between apps. Reducing these switches translates directly into productivity gains.
- Integration with Copilot: As AI moves deeper into Windows 11 with features like Copilot and now Click to Do, users get cutting-edge features that bring tangible value seamlessly integrated into their desktop experience.
- A Glimpse of the AI Future: "Click to Do" is part of a broader push for contextual computing. Imagine entire workflows managed with minimal effort, from fine-tuning spreadsheets to hard-to-find email attachments surfaced automatically. This is your PC becoming genuinely “aware.”
The Bigger Picture: What Does This Say About Windows 11?
Windows 11 is carving out an identity for itself as the definitive AI-friendly operating system. Features like Click to Do and the Copilot initiative represent a shift in focus—not just toward smarter PCs but genuinely AI-enabled workflows that merge hardware capabilities with intuitive software.This also marks another wave of hardware acceleration dependency, embracing specialized processors like Snapdragon X, a move resembling how gaming tends to segment based on GPUs. Users less inclined to stay on the bleeding edge might feel left behind—until these features roll out more widely.
Lastly, AI in personal computing will likely raise privacy considerations. As these tools analyze your screen data, albeit locally (or at least hopefully), those with reservations about screen content scanning may feel conflicted about adopting this feature. Transparency on how data is processed will be critical.
Conclusion: Should You Be Excited?
Absolutely. "Click to Do" is a head-turner in the AI productivity world, further bolstering Windows 11’s USP as a cutting-edge OS for professionals and casual users alike.While its exclusivity to Copilot+ PCs might be a sticking point for the broader base, the feature’s modular, multitasking-centric ethos sets a compelling precedent. As updates refine Click to Do’s capabilities, expect it to become a staple of the everyday Windows experience—making today’s limitations feel like early growing pains.
What’s your take? Are tools like Click to Do the future of intuitive computing, or does locking it to high-tier processors make it feel out of reach for everyday users? Let us know how you see this shaping the Windows of tomorrow.
Source: Neowin Windows 11's new AI feature Click to Do is now available for testing
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