Microsoft has finally unveiled its AI-powered assistant, "Recall," for public preview to Windows Insiders. After months of delays caused by privacy concerns and public backlash, this long-anticipated feature is rolling out exclusively for Copilot+ PCs. Let’s dive into what Recall is, how it works, and what you need to know before testing it.
While this might sound simple at first glance, Recall is brimming with complexity. It integrates deeply with Windows 11, storing and encrypting locally cached data while offering granular controls for privacy. It also works in tandem with Windows Hello and Secure Boot to fortify the safety of your snapshots.
The AI subtly shines in its usability—Microsoft promises it won't record passwords, credit card details, or other personal information. But like any pre-release software, it comes with caveats and asterisks galore. Let’s break them down.
This is great for productivity enthusiasts but potentially raises red flags for privacy-minded users. Despite Microsoft's assurances about local storage and end-to-end encryption, skepticism is warranted—and expected. Missteps like Recall unintentionally ignoring website blacklists (a flaw Microsoft already admitted to) do little to instill trust.
Furthermore, Recall aligns seamlessly with Microsoft’s push of computing trends to AI-heavy, cloud-intelligent, but semi-autonomous workloads. This rollout is a hint towards larger ambitions for Windows+AI ecosystems.
For Insiders with Copilot+ devices, this is your moment to become Microsoft's co-pilot (pun intended) in refining the platform. Share feedback honestly and explore snapshots, but tread cautiously. Testing these features means that your system and its contents are part of experimental waters—if something breaks, don’t say you weren’t warned!
In conclusion, Recall is a bold new avenue for Windows. While promising, the rocky terrain ahead will determine if its future will be a celebrated innovation or an over-hyped disappointment. What do you think? Join in the conversation!
Source: Neowin Recall is now available for Windows Insiders
What's Recall All About?
Part of Microsoft's Copilot+ ecosystem, Recall is an AI-centric feature designed for productivity and memory management. Its primary function is to enable users to take "snapshots" of their tasks and workflows, which can later be retrieved to retrace steps or locate information. Think of it as an extensive, smart undo-and-review mechanism.While this might sound simple at first glance, Recall is brimming with complexity. It integrates deeply with Windows 11, storing and encrypting locally cached data while offering granular controls for privacy. It also works in tandem with Windows Hello and Secure Boot to fortify the safety of your snapshots.
The AI subtly shines in its usability—Microsoft promises it won't record passwords, credit card details, or other personal information. But like any pre-release software, it comes with caveats and asterisks galore. Let’s break them down.
Initial Rollout and Requirements
The current rollout is targeting Windows 11 Insiders participating in the Dev Channel who own Snapdragon-powered PCs with Copilot+ compatibility. Here's what you need to start experimenting with Recall:- Windows 11 Dev Build 26120.2415
This build introduces both Recall and another feature called "Click to Do" (more about this later). You’ll need to update to this specific build to enable Recall. - Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon Processors
The AI magic, for now, is restricted to systems running specific Snapdragon X processors. Microsoft has hinted at future availability for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs but hasn’t committed to a timeline. - Other Requirements
- Windows Hello: You’ll need this setup to ensure your snapshots are secure.
- Secure Boot Enabled: Ensures that recall snapshots operate within a secured environment.
Key Features and Use Cases
Snapshot Creation and Navigation- Recall enables users to save a continuation of their digital workflow. For instance, imagine you’re running multiple spreadsheets, a web browser, and a presentation tool. You can save this workspace as-is and then pull it back up days later without reloading each app or file.
- Privacy skeptics can breathe a little easier: snapshots stay localized. They don’t leave your PC or get used by Microsoft for AI-training purposes (something highly controversial in today’s AI-powered software).
- Users can blacklist specific apps or websites to prevent their inclusion in any snapshot. This is particularly useful for areas like online banking or other sensitive operations.
- Recall will reportedly not save passwords, credit card details, or other sensitive personal information. While this is reassuring, testing users will need to remain vigilant about using privacy settings to specify exclusion zones explicitly.
- A sister feature accompanying Recall, "Click to Do," assists users by automating task completions in apps. Pairing this with Recall creates an ecosystem where not only can you revisit past workflows, but you can also automate routine tasks when you get there.
Here's the Catch!
1. Data Footprint Issues
Recall isn’t exactly light-footed. It reserves a significant chunk of your drive space to cache snapshots. For users with entry-level Copilot+ PCs, this could be problematic, especially with SSDs that come with limited capacity.2. Snapshots Are Wipeable—For Better or Worse
Turning off Windows Hello or resetting your machine wipes all your Recall-generated snapshots irreversibly. Microsoft says it doesn’t hold your encryption keys, meaning you'll lose access to your data if anything goes wrong. The upside? An extra layer of privacy.3. Language Support
At present, Recall is only supported for English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese languages. This is significant for multinational or diverse teams wishing to test the feature.Known Bugs and Expected Updates
As with most features at their Dev Channel debut, Recall isn't without its quirks. It’s currently riddled with bugs and limitations that might cause:- Snapshot deletion during updates
- Feature resets on subsequent builds
- Microsoft will later allow users to fully remove Recall-related cached binaries from their system. (Currently, binaries are just stored and inaccessible.)
Why Should Anyone Care?
Let’s take a moment to assess the bigger picture: Recall is not just a cool "snapshot" feature; it represents a fundamental shift in how AI tools are embedded into operating systems. By integrating memory-like capabilities into Windows, Microsoft hints at a future where your OS "remembers" everything for you.This is great for productivity enthusiasts but potentially raises red flags for privacy-minded users. Despite Microsoft's assurances about local storage and end-to-end encryption, skepticism is warranted—and expected. Missteps like Recall unintentionally ignoring website blacklists (a flaw Microsoft already admitted to) do little to instill trust.
Furthermore, Recall aligns seamlessly with Microsoft’s push of computing trends to AI-heavy, cloud-intelligent, but semi-autonomous workloads. This rollout is a hint towards larger ambitions for Windows+AI ecosystems.
What Comes Next?
For non-Insiders, the key takeaway is to keep an eye on public feedback. Bugs will be squashed, but will Microsoft’s privacy safeguards stand up to scrutiny? That's a debate for every Windows user to engage with.For Insiders with Copilot+ devices, this is your moment to become Microsoft's co-pilot (pun intended) in refining the platform. Share feedback honestly and explore snapshots, but tread cautiously. Testing these features means that your system and its contents are part of experimental waters—if something breaks, don’t say you weren’t warned!
In conclusion, Recall is a bold new avenue for Windows. While promising, the rocky terrain ahead will determine if its future will be a celebrated innovation or an over-hyped disappointment. What do you think? Join in the conversation!
Source: Neowin Recall is now available for Windows Insiders