Microsoft’s Photos App Gets a Copilot Button – But Is It Worth the Hype?
The latest beta update for the Windows Photos app, version 2025.11030.20006.0, has introduced a new Copilot button that aims to offer “Photo Editing Tips,” “Image Insights,” and “Framing Suggestions.” Yet, if you’ve been around the Windows ecosystem long enough, you might be wondering: isn’t this exactly what countless online tutorials and apps are already doing?
Microsoft’s recent test embeds a fresh Copilot button at the top of the Photos app. According to the official description, you can expect three core features:
• Photo Editing Tips – Expert advice on image enhancement
• Image Insights – Discover interesting details about your photos
• Framing Suggestions – Personalized recommendations to hone your photography skills
On paper, these features sound neat, especially for budding photographers looking for quick advice. But many seasoned users will quickly note that similar tips are just a few clicks away on the internet or through established third-party apps.
• Countless video tutorials and online articles elaborate on photography techniques.
• Built-in editing tools in many photo apps (and even the classic Paint) already offer valuable features without the need for an extra button.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has pushed AI-related functionalities that appear redundant at first blush. Past experiments—like the much-maligned Copilot key on certain Windows PCs—were intended to herald an AI-powered future, yet they ended up feeling a little…superficial. With the Copilot button in Photos, the same critical questions arise: Is this truly innovative, or is it simply Microsoft’s way of keeping AI buzzwords alive in every nook of Windows?
For now, though, the beta remains underwhelming. Users seeking genuine transformation in photo editing might need to be patient while Microsoft continues to refine its AI toolkit.
The new button does offer a signal of intent—a demonstration that Microsoft wants to expand its AI and visual processing capabilities across its operating system. However, as presently designed, it is a modest, almost token gesture rather than a fully fleshed-out feature that delivers a distinct competitive advantage.
• Will Microsoft invest further in deep AI integrations that go well beyond surface-level tips?
• Can the functionality be expanded to offer truly unique insights and automated editing powered by advanced visual AI?
• Or will it remain a redundant add-on, easily overshadowed by third-party applications and online content?
While many desktop enthusiasts remain skeptical, it’s also important to note that early beta features often serve as stepping stones. What may begin as a basic utility could, with iterative updates and user feedback, become a pivotal tool in Microsoft’s AI ecosystem.
For the time being, Windows users may find themselves amused (or frustrated) by yet another experiment in Microsoft’s AI journey. The ultimate impact of this feature remains to be seen, and only time will tell if it evolves into a helpful tool or fades into the background as a minor, novelty add-on.
What do you think? Is this a beta glimpse of deeper, smarter integration, or just another button that’s all style and no substance?
Source: PCWorld A useless Copilot button is being tested on Windows Photos
The latest beta update for the Windows Photos app, version 2025.11030.20006.0, has introduced a new Copilot button that aims to offer “Photo Editing Tips,” “Image Insights,” and “Framing Suggestions.” Yet, if you’ve been around the Windows ecosystem long enough, you might be wondering: isn’t this exactly what countless online tutorials and apps are already doing?
What’s New in the Photos App?
Microsoft’s recent test embeds a fresh Copilot button at the top of the Photos app. According to the official description, you can expect three core features:• Photo Editing Tips – Expert advice on image enhancement
• Image Insights – Discover interesting details about your photos
• Framing Suggestions – Personalized recommendations to hone your photography skills
On paper, these features sound neat, especially for budding photographers looking for quick advice. But many seasoned users will quickly note that similar tips are just a few clicks away on the internet or through established third-party apps.
A Case of Minimal Innovation?
The new Copilot button seems more like a cosmetic addition than a transformative tool. Windows users have plenty of resources at their disposal:• Countless video tutorials and online articles elaborate on photography techniques.
• Built-in editing tools in many photo apps (and even the classic Paint) already offer valuable features without the need for an extra button.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has pushed AI-related functionalities that appear redundant at first blush. Past experiments—like the much-maligned Copilot key on certain Windows PCs—were intended to herald an AI-powered future, yet they ended up feeling a little…superficial. With the Copilot button in Photos, the same critical questions arise: Is this truly innovative, or is it simply Microsoft’s way of keeping AI buzzwords alive in every nook of Windows?
The Bigger Picture: A Preview of Visual AI?
While the current capabilities of the Photos app’s Copilot button may feel unnecessary, there could be a broader vision at work. Microsoft is clearly betting on the future of visual AI. The tech giant’s Edge browser already features Copilot Vision—a tool that “sees” what you’re looking at and offers contextual assistance. It’s reasonable to suspect that the rudimentary features in Photos today might eventually evolve into more powerful, integrated visual intelligence that redefines how we interact with our images.For now, though, the beta remains underwhelming. Users seeking genuine transformation in photo editing might need to be patient while Microsoft continues to refine its AI toolkit.
Is It Just Another Gimmick?
Critics have been quick to point out that if you need advice on taking better photos, there’s an abundance of free resources available online. The Copilot button’s editing tips and framing suggestions could be viewed as a repackaging of common knowledge rather than an innovative leap forward. Furthermore, with many Windows users having recently expressed relief over the accidental removal of earlier Copilot features, the addition of yet another AI function might not win hearts and minds right away.The new button does offer a signal of intent—a demonstration that Microsoft wants to expand its AI and visual processing capabilities across its operating system. However, as presently designed, it is a modest, almost token gesture rather than a fully fleshed-out feature that delivers a distinct competitive advantage.
What’s Next for Windows AI?
The current iteration of the Photos app Copilot button raises several questions for the future:• Will Microsoft invest further in deep AI integrations that go well beyond surface-level tips?
• Can the functionality be expanded to offer truly unique insights and automated editing powered by advanced visual AI?
• Or will it remain a redundant add-on, easily overshadowed by third-party applications and online content?
While many desktop enthusiasts remain skeptical, it’s also important to note that early beta features often serve as stepping stones. What may begin as a basic utility could, with iterative updates and user feedback, become a pivotal tool in Microsoft’s AI ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
At the moment, the new Copilot button in Windows Photos might well be dismissed as a “useless” button—offering functionality that’s available elsewhere or that could be delivered more robustly in future updates. Nevertheless, its subtle hint at integrating more advanced visual AI into everyday apps cannot be completely ignored.For the time being, Windows users may find themselves amused (or frustrated) by yet another experiment in Microsoft’s AI journey. The ultimate impact of this feature remains to be seen, and only time will tell if it evolves into a helpful tool or fades into the background as a minor, novelty add-on.
What do you think? Is this a beta glimpse of deeper, smarter integration, or just another button that’s all style and no substance?
Source: PCWorld A useless Copilot button is being tested on Windows Photos
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