It looks like everyone loves a new Windows 11 feature, until they find out that—surprise!—not everyone gets an invite to the software party. Microsoft, ever the connoisseur of exclusive experiences, is serving up a fresh Beta build for Windows 11, but only Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon chips are on the VIP list for several headlining upgrades. So if your device isn’t running on Arm-based magic, you’ll have to hover enviously outside the velvet rope for now.
Microsoft’s latest preview for Windows 11 (build 26120.3872, for those of you keeping track at home) is brimming with under-the-hood AI advancements, accessibility boosts, and nifty user conveniences. Just don’t expect to see all of these new toys on every PC—or indeed any PC, unless you’ve managed to snag one of Microsoft’s shiny new Copilot+ devices fueled by Snapdragon silicon.
Not that exclusivity is a new Microsoft strategy, mind you. For two decades, I’ve watched features roll out to a select few, leaving the vast majority of users staring wistfully at their update screens. This time, the pattern is unmistakable: AI-powered features are the territory of Arm-based Copilot+ PCs. AMD and Intel users, pour one out (or, more optimistically, keep waiting for the feature backfill).
Even more pointedly, Click to Do also brings in “Read with Immersive Reader,” explicitly targeting users with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Immersive Reader has long been a hit in education circles for its customizability, and integrating it at the OS level is a smart move. Fonts, background colors, text spacing, even a picture dictionary—all are just a few clicks away.
But here’s the catch (because there’s always a catch): Only Copilot+ devices with Snapdragon chips get these features early. In typical Microsoft fashion, they promise other Copilot+ devices will “eventually” see the love, but there's no telling when “eventually” turns into “actually.”
Let’s reflect for a moment on the real-life fallout. For IT departments tasked with rolling out accessibility features, the limitations mean advance planning becomes a spectator sport. Do you invest now in Arm hardware for these forward-leaning features, or stick to more “classic” silicon and hope that Microsoft’s powers of “eventual” delivery don’t lose steam five builds down the line?
This, in itself, is a clever evolution of Windows Search—no more manual mountain climbing through directories for that one grainy, possibly embarrassing photo from last October. But let’s call out the geo-locking elephant in the room: for now, this AI-powered search is EEA-only. Of course, Microsoft promises rollout to other territories, but this regionality is a common refrain for Redmond’s AI-powered features.
Imagine being an IT manager in New York, watching your EEA peers show off AI search, while you patiently await expansion (and fight the urge to VPN your way onto the feature list). One can only hope that global parity arrives before your own Halloween photos become vintage artifacts.
It’s almost shocking it took this long, given that Nuance’s Dragon software offered this feature decades ago (Microsoft acquired Nuance in 2021, in case you missed that episode). But, like a bus that’s running late but ultimately free, it’s nothing to complain about—especially when built-in dictation becomes genuinely useful for people with accessibility needs, dense medical vocabularies, or fondness for obscure pizza toppings.
For IT professionals, this spells fewer frantic calls about misinterpreted voice commands and more productive use of the built-in tool. The only problem? You’ll now have to ensure your custom word lists don’t get weirdly out of hand—which, judging by corporate IT’s history with Wolfenstein passwords and Star Trek-inspired WiFi names, may not be guaranteed.
But for every winner, there’s a loser, and in this game of hardware thrones, AMD and Intel users look on while Snapdragon sprints ahead. It’s reminiscent of the era when EdgeHTML-only features were “coming soon” to Chrome and Firefox. The stakes, now with AI and accessibility, are higher than ever. If Microsoft can’t deliver parity in a reasonable window, corporate buyers may balk at yet another round of hardware upgrades for features that—ironically—are supposed to make work easier.
It doesn’t help that the feature fragmentation complicates long-term planning for IT professionals. Should you hold off on buying new Intel or AMD hardware? Bet the farm on Arm devices? Or just sit tight and hope that Microsoft’s “eventual” really means before this article becomes out of date?
Still, even the best accessibility tech is only as good as its availability, and Microsoft’s walled-garden approach means these benefits are, for now, the digital equivalent of an exclusive country club: fantastic if you’re inside, frustrating if you’re looking through the window. The result is a paradox: the accessibility gap closes for some but widens for others, at least temporarily.
For IT departments with diverse user needs, that’s a logistical headache mixed with ethical angst. Universal design should mean universal access—not a slow, chip-by-chip rollout that arbitrarily decides which users get which superpowers. Microsoft swears that eventual hardware parity is coming. Until then, the best answer anyone can muster is, “Trust us—it’s coming soon.”
For IT admins, this is both tantalizing and terrifying. On one hand, smarter systems mean less repetitive troubleshooting, better compliance with accessibility mandates, and smoother daily workflows. On the other, the patchwork nature of AI feature deployment means supporting end-users is now a matter of reading the Windows build and hardware compatibility runes before confidently issuing advice. Gone are the days when a version number and a quick restart could solve all ills; now, “do you have Copilot+ on Snapdragon?” is the first question on every helpdesk script.
There are also lingering privacy and security puzzles yet to be solved. Natural language search that trawls cloud and local files may streamline user experience, but IT security teams will want to know exactly which files are indexed, how queries are logged, and whether someone’s attempt to find “Halloween costumes” might turn up confidential board-room skeletons instead.
And let’s not forget the Voice Access dictionary. While it’s a major leap in usability, custom user dictionaries can quickly become a liability if not managed sensibly. In enterprises with regulated environments—think healthcare or finance—a few mischievously named entries or unintentional data leakage through custom phrases could set off more alarms than any ransomware ping.
On the accessibility front, the integration pace isn’t just a question of fairness but of legal compliance. Organizations covered by accessibility mandates will need to be especially vigilant in mapping which users have access to which features and when, all while fielding questions like “Why can Jane use Immersive Reader and I can’t?” approximately thirty times a day until hardware parity is reached.
For IT admins and tech leaders, the watchwords are caution and patience. While it’s tempting to chase the latest features, holistic planning means considering the entire user base, not just the lucky few. Early adopters will need to report back on real-world performance, privacy gotchas, and genuine impact, all while negotiating Microsoft’s ever-shifting update cadence.
And if you’re an everyday Windows user? Keep an eye on that update screen—but don’t be surprised if your long-awaited AI reading assistant takes its sweet time crossing the finish line to your particular device. In the meantime, savor the fact that for every tantalizing AI breakthrough, there’s still at least one new feature within reach: a voice dictionary open to all, so you can finally dictate that obscure pizza order without friction. For everything else, there’s hope—and the Microsoft Feedback Hub.
In the end, Microsoft’s relentless march toward smarter and more accessible computing is laudable, even if, at times, it resembles a relay race run by two runners: one sprinting ahead with Snapdragon power, and the other lacing up their shoes. The finish line is in sight; just make sure you’re on the right side of the velvet rope when the next invite goes out.
Source: TechRadar Microsoft is working on some seriously exciting Windows 11 improvements - here's how to check if you can get them
Microsoft’s latest preview for Windows 11 (build 26120.3872, for those of you keeping track at home) is brimming with under-the-hood AI advancements, accessibility boosts, and nifty user conveniences. Just don’t expect to see all of these new toys on every PC—or indeed any PC, unless you’ve managed to snag one of Microsoft’s shiny new Copilot+ devices fueled by Snapdragon silicon.Not that exclusivity is a new Microsoft strategy, mind you. For two decades, I’ve watched features roll out to a select few, leaving the vast majority of users staring wistfully at their update screens. This time, the pattern is unmistakable: AI-powered features are the territory of Arm-based Copilot+ PCs. AMD and Intel users, pour one out (or, more optimistically, keep waiting for the feature backfill).
Click to Do and Reading Coach: AI-Powered Reading for the Chosen Many
At the top of the bill lies the integration of “Click to Do” and Reading Coach, a dynamic AI-powered duo reminiscent of Batman and Robin—if both were obsessed with improving your reading proficiency rather than fighting crime. Click to Do provides context-aware actions, supercharged by Copilot’s AI. Paired with the Reading Coach, users can now select any text and summon embedded training to practice pronunciation or comprehension—provided, of course, you’ve downloaded the app from the Microsoft Store.Even more pointedly, Click to Do also brings in “Read with Immersive Reader,” explicitly targeting users with dyslexia and dysgraphia. Immersive Reader has long been a hit in education circles for its customizability, and integrating it at the OS level is a smart move. Fonts, background colors, text spacing, even a picture dictionary—all are just a few clicks away.
But here’s the catch (because there’s always a catch): Only Copilot+ devices with Snapdragon chips get these features early. In typical Microsoft fashion, they promise other Copilot+ devices will “eventually” see the love, but there's no telling when “eventually” turns into “actually.”
Let’s reflect for a moment on the real-life fallout. For IT departments tasked with rolling out accessibility features, the limitations mean advance planning becomes a spectator sport. Do you invest now in Arm hardware for these forward-leaning features, or stick to more “classic” silicon and hope that Microsoft’s powers of “eventual” delivery don’t lose steam five builds down the line?
AI-Powered Search: Find My Cat Photos (But Only in the EEA... For Now)
Another AI-infused upgrade exclusive to Copilot+ (again, with Snapdragon as your golden ticket) is richer taskbar search capability, where you can now search your OneDrive cloud images using natural language. Want all your Halloween costume photos? Just ask for them. The search parses both local and cloud files, merging them into a unified result list—provided you’re in the European Economic Area, at least for now.This, in itself, is a clever evolution of Windows Search—no more manual mountain climbing through directories for that one grainy, possibly embarrassing photo from last October. But let’s call out the geo-locking elephant in the room: for now, this AI-powered search is EEA-only. Of course, Microsoft promises rollout to other territories, but this regionality is a common refrain for Redmond’s AI-powered features.
Imagine being an IT manager in New York, watching your EEA peers show off AI search, while you patiently await expansion (and fight the urge to VPN your way onto the feature list). One can only hope that global parity arrives before your own Halloween photos become vintage artifacts.
Voice Access: Finally, the Dictionary of Your Dreams
In a move that’s refreshingly universal, Voice Access is finally getting custom dictionary support—on all PCs, no hardware snobbery required. Anyone who’s used voice dictation tools knows the pain of trying to get the system to recognize anything less prosaic than “cat” or “dog.” Now, with the ability to add your own words, Windows 11 users everywhere can teach their systems to embrace their industry jargon, regional slang, and favorite fantasy character names.It’s almost shocking it took this long, given that Nuance’s Dragon software offered this feature decades ago (Microsoft acquired Nuance in 2021, in case you missed that episode). But, like a bus that’s running late but ultimately free, it’s nothing to complain about—especially when built-in dictation becomes genuinely useful for people with accessibility needs, dense medical vocabularies, or fondness for obscure pizza toppings.
For IT professionals, this spells fewer frantic calls about misinterpreted voice commands and more productive use of the built-in tool. The only problem? You’ll now have to ensure your custom word lists don’t get weirdly out of hand—which, judging by corporate IT’s history with Wolfenstein passwords and Star Trek-inspired WiFi names, may not be guaranteed.
Analysis: The Pros and Cons of Snapdragon-First Rollouts
There’s little doubt that Microsoft’s decision to prioritize Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ devices is a calculated gamble. Under the hood, these Arm chips promise better efficiency, integrated AI acceleration, and improved battery life—all compelling on paper. By leaning into these strengths with premiere features, Microsoft isn’t just selling Windows 11—it’s selling the future of the Windows hardware ecosystem.But for every winner, there’s a loser, and in this game of hardware thrones, AMD and Intel users look on while Snapdragon sprints ahead. It’s reminiscent of the era when EdgeHTML-only features were “coming soon” to Chrome and Firefox. The stakes, now with AI and accessibility, are higher than ever. If Microsoft can’t deliver parity in a reasonable window, corporate buyers may balk at yet another round of hardware upgrades for features that—ironically—are supposed to make work easier.
It doesn’t help that the feature fragmentation complicates long-term planning for IT professionals. Should you hold off on buying new Intel or AMD hardware? Bet the farm on Arm devices? Or just sit tight and hope that Microsoft’s “eventual” really means before this article becomes out of date?
Accessibility Improvements: Genuine Progress or Marketing Hype?
It’s important to give genuine credit where it’s due: features like the Immersive Reader and enhanced Reading Coach aren’t mere fluff. These tools address longstanding gaps in digital accessibility, empowering users with learning differences to participate more fully and independently. The picture dictionary, syllable splitting, and adjustable themes can be transformative.Still, even the best accessibility tech is only as good as its availability, and Microsoft’s walled-garden approach means these benefits are, for now, the digital equivalent of an exclusive country club: fantastic if you’re inside, frustrating if you’re looking through the window. The result is a paradox: the accessibility gap closes for some but widens for others, at least temporarily.
For IT departments with diverse user needs, that’s a logistical headache mixed with ethical angst. Universal design should mean universal access—not a slow, chip-by-chip rollout that arbitrarily decides which users get which superpowers. Microsoft swears that eventual hardware parity is coming. Until then, the best answer anyone can muster is, “Trust us—it’s coming soon.”
AI Everywhere… Eventually
One theme emerges clearly from this update cycle: AI isn’t just seeping into Windows 11—it’s flooding in, provided your device is young, powerful, and preferably running Arm. The OS is evolving from a static, procedural playground for software into a living, responsive companion that understands your needs, adapts to your context, and—ideally—doesn’t crash right when you need it most.For IT admins, this is both tantalizing and terrifying. On one hand, smarter systems mean less repetitive troubleshooting, better compliance with accessibility mandates, and smoother daily workflows. On the other, the patchwork nature of AI feature deployment means supporting end-users is now a matter of reading the Windows build and hardware compatibility runes before confidently issuing advice. Gone are the days when a version number and a quick restart could solve all ills; now, “do you have Copilot+ on Snapdragon?” is the first question on every helpdesk script.
There are also lingering privacy and security puzzles yet to be solved. Natural language search that trawls cloud and local files may streamline user experience, but IT security teams will want to know exactly which files are indexed, how queries are logged, and whether someone’s attempt to find “Halloween costumes” might turn up confidential board-room skeletons instead.
Hidden Risks and the Not-so-fine Print
What could possibly go wrong, handing more power to AI and the cloud? While the features Microsoft touts are indeed compelling, they also hint at risks lurking beneath the glossy screenshots. For instance, natural language search across all photos in OneDrive invites questions about unwanted results, data residency compliance, and the ever-present risk of embarrassing accidents if the algorithm isn’t quite as sharp as promised.And let’s not forget the Voice Access dictionary. While it’s a major leap in usability, custom user dictionaries can quickly become a liability if not managed sensibly. In enterprises with regulated environments—think healthcare or finance—a few mischievously named entries or unintentional data leakage through custom phrases could set off more alarms than any ransomware ping.
On the accessibility front, the integration pace isn’t just a question of fairness but of legal compliance. Organizations covered by accessibility mandates will need to be especially vigilant in mapping which users have access to which features and when, all while fielding questions like “Why can Jane use Immersive Reader and I can’t?” approximately thirty times a day until hardware parity is reached.
The Bottom Line (and Some Real Talk)
So, where does this leave the Windows 11 landscape as of build 26120.3872? On the one hand, the direction is bold, progressive, and genuinely exciting—AI at your fingertips, integrated accessibility, personalized voice control. On the other, it’s a world divided for now: the anointed Copilot+ Snapdragon crowd gets the head start, while most other users bide their time on the sidewalk, noses pressed to the glass.For IT admins and tech leaders, the watchwords are caution and patience. While it’s tempting to chase the latest features, holistic planning means considering the entire user base, not just the lucky few. Early adopters will need to report back on real-world performance, privacy gotchas, and genuine impact, all while negotiating Microsoft’s ever-shifting update cadence.
And if you’re an everyday Windows user? Keep an eye on that update screen—but don’t be surprised if your long-awaited AI reading assistant takes its sweet time crossing the finish line to your particular device. In the meantime, savor the fact that for every tantalizing AI breakthrough, there’s still at least one new feature within reach: a voice dictionary open to all, so you can finally dictate that obscure pizza order without friction. For everything else, there’s hope—and the Microsoft Feedback Hub.
In the end, Microsoft’s relentless march toward smarter and more accessible computing is laudable, even if, at times, it resembles a relay race run by two runners: one sprinting ahead with Snapdragon power, and the other lacing up their shoes. The finish line is in sight; just make sure you’re on the right side of the velvet rope when the next invite goes out.
Source: TechRadar Microsoft is working on some seriously exciting Windows 11 improvements - here's how to check if you can get them