The story is about Microsoft officially launching its "Recall" feature for Windows 11, almost a year after its initial announcement. Recall is currently only available on Copilot+ PCs, a special category of Windows 11 devices equipped with advanced AI processors (initially Snapdragon-powered, with AMD and Intel expected to support it later).
Key points about the Recall feature:
- What is Recall?
- Recall acts like a "photographic memory" for your PC, continuously taking screenshots ("snapshots") of your activities on Windows 11.
- These snapshots are stored locally on your system in an encrypted, searchable database.
- It allows users to search their recent activities, files, apps, and web content using natural language queries and browse a visual timeline of their digital workspace.
- "Click to Do" is another feature bundled with Recall, enabling direct interaction with text and images from the snapshots.
- Privacy and Security Concerns:
- Initially, Recall faced major backlash due to privacy fears since it captures everything you do on your PC.
- Concerns included potential unauthorized access to snapshots, inadvertent capturing of sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers, and doubts about whether Microsoft or third parties could access the data.
- In response, Microsoft delayed the launch to improve privacy protections, adding:
- Local-only encrypted storage with no transmission to Microsoft servers.
- Windows Hello biometric authentication required to access Recall data.
- Automatic filtering out of sensitive info from screenshots.
- User controls to exclude specific apps or websites (like private browsing) from being recorded.
- Opt-in design, disabled by default.
- Requirement for device encryption such as BitLocker and Secure Boot.
- Availability and Requirements:
- Currently available in preview builds to Windows Insider Dev Channel users on qualifying Copilot+ devices.
- Initially limited to Snapdragon Copilot+ PCs, with AMD and Intel-based devices joining soon.
- Requires hardware features like Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for AI capabilities.
- Enterprise editions exclude Recall to avoid workplace surveillance concerns.
- Use Cases and Reception:
- Designed as a productivity aid to easily retrieve lost information, documents, or tasks by browsing or searching through activity history.
- Some users find it highly convenient, while others express privacy and security reservations.
- Microsoft continues to iterate based on Insider feedback before a broader rollout.
Source: Your Windows PC can now recall everything you've seen
