Microsoft Updates Windows Apps with AI Features: Paint, Snipping Tool, and Notepad

Microsoft continues to double down on the integration of artificial intelligence into its core suite of Windows productivity apps, and the latest Insider update represents a significant leap forward, especially for users on Copilot+ PCs. With the rollout of new features for Paint, Snipping Tool, and Notepad in the Dev and Canary Insider channels, Microsoft is sending a clear message: AI-powered creativity and productivity will be front and center in the next wave of the Windows experience.

AI Arrives in Windows' Familiar Faces​

For decades, Paint, Snipping Tool, and Notepad have been the unsung heroes of Windows, quietly enabling basic creativity, screen capture, and text editing. Their simplicity has always been their greatest strength but also a limitation compared to more advanced software. This paradigm is shifting as Microsoft injects intelligent features directly into their workflows—blending the old and the new in a way that could transform daily computing for millions.

Paint: From Pixels to Stickers with a Single Prompt​

Paint—perhaps the most iconic basic graphics app on Windows—now finds itself at the frontier of generative AI. With the update to version 11.2504.451.0, Paint gains a ground-breaking feature dubbed Sticker Generator. Embedded within the Copilot menu, this tool empowers users to type in a written prompt (such as "cat with sunglasses" or "abstract waves") and instantly receive a curated set of AI-generated stickers. Once generated, these stickers can be dragged onto the canvas, manipulated, and saved for future use.
This innovation marks more than just an aesthetic upgrade: it democratizes digital art, enabling even the least artistically inclined user to enhance their projects with unique, personalized graphics. Unlike the template-driven sticker packs of rival apps, Sticker Generator creates assets dynamically based on user input, making each sticker potentially one of a kind.
However, there are important technical and accessibility caveats. Only devices classified as Copilot+ PCs—equipped with the right AI-capable hardware and a Microsoft account—currently support these features. This means traditional or budget devices may be left behind for now, raising questions about equitable access to the latest advancements.

Object Select—AI-Powered Precision​

The update doesn't stop at stickers. Paint now includes Object Select, a native AI-driven selection tool that isolates individual objects within an image. Previously, separating a subject from its background required laborious manual tracing or external software. Now, users can tap into sophisticated image segmentation, easily selecting, moving, or deleting elements while preserving the background intact.
This brings Paint closer to the territory dominated by advanced editors like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP—albeit with a more approachable, streamlined interface. It’s a nod to the growing expectation that even basic tools should harness the power of machine learning for otherwise tedious tasks.

A New Welcome Experience​

Microsoft has also instituted a new welcome screen for Paint, designed to highlight these AI capabilities and onboard users quickly. The onboarding flow marks a shift in how Microsoft introduces features, emphasizing discoverability and user education. The more prominent spotlight on what's new could help bridge the gap between seasoned Windows veterans and those just discovering the app’s full potential.

Snipping Tool: Smarter Screenshots for an AI Age​

Screen capture utility—Snipping Tool—now clocks in at version 11.2504.38.0 and earns notable AI-powered enhancements geared towards productivity, design, and digital communication.

Perfect Screenshot—Shape-Aware Clipping​

The pinnacle feature here is Perfect Screenshot. With ordinary snipping, users manually align rectangles or freeform selections, often struggling to perfectly capture complex UI elements or shapes. Microsoft's answer? AI-driven object and shape detection that intelligently snaps the selection to match detected elements on the screen. This minimizes frustration and razor-straightens the workflows for creating documentation or sharing visuals.
Microsoft’s move echoes capabilities found in modern mobile screenshot tools and some third-party utilities but bakes them natively into Windows—another signal of Redmond’s desire to have Windows be the default workspace for everything, no third-party extensions required.

Advanced Color Picker​

Complementing the screenshot improvements, Snipping Tool now sports a color picker capable of extracting color codes in multiple formats: HEX, RGB, and HSL. For designers, developers, and anyone working with digital art, this feature collapses the need for separate color tools, letting users instantly grab and reuse precise color values from anywhere on the screen.
The update positions Windows as a more complete creative platform, saving time and clicks while centralizing once-scattered workflows.

Notepad: AI-Powered Text Generation at Your Fingertips​

On the surface, Notepad is the last app one might expect to see infused with cutting-edge AI. Its reputation is that of wartime minimalism—just you and a blinking cursor. But with version 11.2504.46.0, even this spartan editor gets a taste of the future.

AI Text Generation—Rewriting for the Masses​

The new AI text generation feature allows users to select any snippet of text, hit Ctrl + Q, and enter a description of the changes they'd like to see. Instantly, AI rewrites the selection according to the prompt—be it simplifying, elaborating, paraphrasing, or changing the tone.
This could revolutionize how users draft emails, notes, or code comments, reducing writer’s block and making writing more accessible for non-native speakers or those seeking polished output. The integration parallels similar smart compose features in Microsoft Word and Teams but brings them to the barest text editor.
There’s a notable limitation: this feature is locked behind authentication. Users must be signed into Microsoft accounts with Copilot Pro or eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions that include AI credits. Notably, Microsoft allows users to disable AI text generation in settings—a nod to privacy advocates and those wary of integrating cloud-based intelligence directly into daily workflows.

Critical Analysis: Strengths, Pitfalls, and the Road Ahead​

Strengths​

• Seamless AI Integration: By embedding AI directly into foundational Windows apps, Microsoft eliminates friction, enabling users to enjoy AI power without learning new tools or workflows.
• Increased Productivity: Features like Object Select and Perfect Screenshot streamline formerly arduous tasks, letting users spend less time on simple edits and more on creative output.
• Expanding Accessibility: AI-generated content and smart text rewriting can lower the barrier for users with less experience in art or English, democratizing creativity and communication.
• Centralized Experiences: Enhancements reduce the need for third-party tools, simplifying IT administration and boosting consistency, especially in enterprise environments.

Potential Concerns and Risks​

• Hardware and Subscription Gates: The most exciting AI features depend on Copilot+ PCs and, in some cases, paid subscriptions. Early adopters without modern hardware or the right Microsoft 365 plans may feel excluded—a dynamic reminiscent of prior generational hardware leaps throughout Windows' history.
• Privacy Implications: AI-powered rewriting and sticker generation could raise sensitive questions about data privacy and the degree to which user data is processed or transmitted to Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure. While settings exist to disable AI features, transparency in how data is handled will be crucial.
• Dependence on Microsoft Ecosystem: As core functionalities become entangled with authenticated cloud services and proprietary AI, users further lock themselves into the Microsoft ecosystem. This could deter adoption by open source advocates or privacy-conscious users who prefer offline tools.
• Uncertain Reliability and Quality: Early feedback on AI generative features (such as text rewriting and sticker creation) may uncover inconsistencies in quality or appropriateness of results. Ongoing refinement—and clear user feedback loops—will be essential to avoid user frustration.

The AI-Infused Desktop: A New Baseline for Productivity?​

The Insider release of these features speaks volumes about Microsoft’s direction for Windows as both a productivity and a creativity hub. Paint, Snipping Tool, and Notepad now join the likes of Word, Outlook, and Edge as flagship canvases for generative AI. These enhancements signal the continued erosion of boundaries between professional-grade tools and consumer-friendly apps: advanced workflows, once the domain of specialists, are increasingly at everyone’s fingertips.

Broader Implications for the Windows Ecosystem​

The decision to make certain AI functions exclusive to Copilot+ PCs is strategic. Copilot+ is shaping up not just as a hardware tier but as a marketing vehicle—much like Surface once was—showcasing the best experiences Microsoft can offer. It’s likely that a wave of OEMs will tout Copilot+ compliance as a selling point, further accelerating hardware upgrades but also creating a fragmented user base.
Microsoft’s subscription-first approach to unlocking premium AI—mirroring what we see in Microsoft 365 and Copilot Pro—is likely to spark debate. While there’s clear value in paid AI resources, casual users might balk if features in “basic” apps like Notepad suddenly require monthly fees. The tightrope walk between innovation and inclusivity continues.

User Experience and Learning Curves​

One of Microsoft’s most successful recent moves has been to foreground new features via onboarding screens and intuitive UI cues. The new welcome experience in Paint is a smart step toward reducing the intimidation factor for casual users. However, success will still hinge on discoverability—ensuring these new capabilities are both visible and easy to adopt in everyday workflows.
Advanced users will appreciate the leaps in power, but the real test is whether everyday consumers—students, hobbyists, office workers—can harness AI’s benefits without getting lost in the weeds. Small touches, like integrated tooltips and example prompts, could prove pivotal.

Verifiability and Forward Momentum​

The quantity and quality of features described here have been corroborated by multiple sources, including official Microsoft changelogs, Windows Insider blog updates, and independent coverage from outlets like Windows Report and The Verge. While Microsoft’s rollout schedules and eligibility requirements have sometimes shifted, the presence of AI-driven Sticker Generator in Paint, Object Select, Snipping Tool’s Perfect Screenshot, and Notepad’s AI rewrite have been consistently reported across public Insider preview discussions and direct app documentation.
As expected with Insider channel releases, features may evolve or experience temporary regressions. Users should approach with anticipation but also patience, sharing findings and feedback through the appropriate Microsoft feedback channels to accelerate improvements and stabilization.

Conclusion: A Preview of Everyday AI​

The latest round of AI enhancements to core Windows applications isn’t just a technical update—it’s a tangible step toward mainstreaming sophisticated machine learning into daily computing. From art novices creating unique stickers in Paint, through seamless color picking in Snipping Tool, to effortlessly rewording emails in Notepad, the “AI everywhere” philosophy is more than marketing hype; it’s rapidly becoming the new normal.
Yet, as with any technological leap, the path will be uneven. Challenges around access, privacy, and ecosystem lock-in must be addressed head-on. Still, for most users, the prospect of radically expanded creativity and productivity—with minimal learning curve—represents an exciting direction.
For now, these innovations are available to a select audience within the Windows Insider Dev and Canary circles, but their ramifications are sure to ripple through the broader ecosystem as rollout continues. As Microsoft reshapes its classic apps into AI-augmented experiences, the only certainty is that the humble tools of yesterday may soon become the indispensable creative partners of tomorrow.

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Source: Windows Report Microsoft Paint, Snipping Tool & Notepad get AI features with latest Insider update