Windows Classic Apps Get AI Makeover: Notepad, Paint, and Snipping Tool Reinvented with Copilot+

The relentless pace of artificial intelligence innovation is transforming even the most classic Windows programs. Once the humble staples of quick notes, pixel edits, and screenshots, applications like Notepad, Paint, and Snipping Tool are now the latest frontline for Microsoft's bold Copilot integration. The tech giant’s recent announcement showcases a shift: AI isn’t just for flagships like Word or Excel—it’s meant to permeate the entire experience of Windows 11, right down to the utilities tucked away in every user’s accessories folder.

Revitalizing the Classics: What’s Changing?​

Microsoft’s embrace of AI, especially with the Copilot+ initiative and new silicon architectures designed for AI computation, signals a pivotal move. Windows 11 users in the Insider program’s Canary and Dev channels are first in line to experience these features, with general availability for the broader user base expected later this year, though Microsoft has not specified a precise timeline. Independent reviews of these features suggest both genuine utility and lingering questions about practical value and accessibility.
Let’s examine each app's new AI features, explore their real-world implications, and critically assess whether this is meaningful progress—or simply marketing gloss atop old favorites.

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Notepad: Simple Text, Now with Generative Power​

Notepad has always epitomized minimalist utility, lauded for its speed and absence of distractions. Microsoft’s modern iterations, especially in version 11.2504.46.0, layer more intelligence onto this blank slate. Earlier enhancements allowed users to rewrite existing content, similar to the paraphrasing tools evident in popular AI writing assistants. The latest update introduces text generation: describe what you want, and Copilot fills in the blanks.
How It Works:

• Trigger text generation with Ctrl-Q, a right-click context selection, or via the Copilot menu.
• Craft a prompt such as “Write a formal letter of resignation,” and Notepad will generate boilerplate content.

Crucial Limitations:

• AI Credits: Unlike the web-based version of Copilot, which is free and accessible, Notepad’s AI features require credits—a Microsoft monetization model that could frustrate users accustomed to no-cost utilities.
• Connection to Copilot Account: Image generation and, in some scenarios, text features rely on a Copilot or Microsoft account, adding an authentication layer not previously required for Notepad.

Critical Analysis:
The use case for AI text generation within Notepad is niche. Power users or those with regular writing tasks may appreciate embedded suggestions or quick fixes, but casual edits and note-taking probably won’t benefit much from this feature set. There’s also a philosophical challenge: Notepad’s appeal has always been its simplicity. Layering AI tools could risk user alienation. Microsoft’s decision to include toggles for disabling AI features should placate traditionalists, yet it’s clear that the company’s vision is a Notepad inseparable from cloud-driven intelligence.
Verifying the Utility:
Early hands-on reviews report that Copilot’s text generation maintains fluent, relevant output but sometimes struggles with context in complex prompts. Because similar experiences are reported across AI tools from OpenAI, Google, and others, it appears Microsoft’s offering is neither groundbreaking nor subpar. The core question is: do enough Notepad users genuinely need generative AI for the product’s DNA to warrant this transformation?

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Snipping Tool: Precision Screenshots with an AI Edge​

The Snipping Tool, long cherished by those seeking a reliable screenshot solution, is also receiving a transformative AI infusion. The new “Perfect Screenshot” mode and an integrated Color Picker demonstrate a real attempt to solve common capture challenges.
Perfect Screenshot:

• Designed to help users select precisely the right screen region—a task that can be agonizingly tricky with pixel-perfect requirements.
• Instead of relying solely on the mouse or a steady hand, the AI leverages on-screen context to intelligently snap selection areas to UI elements, windows, or graphics.

Accessing the Feature:

• Click the “Perfect Screenshot” button in the Snipping Tool toolbar.
• Alternatively, hold the Ctrl key while selecting a region.

Color Picker:

• Provides the ability to identify the color of any on-screen pixel.
• Returns codes in HEX, RGB, or HSL—formats essential to designers and developers.

How These Features Stack Up:
The Color Picker, in particular, receives widespread applause for its utility. Previously, users had to resort to third-party apps like PowerToys or browser extensions for this functionality. Now, with native integration, Snipping Tool is more competitive and user-friendly. The Perfect Screenshot feature’s efficacy will depend on the robustness of Microsoft’s AI models. Official documentation and early testers indicate that while selection “snapping” works well for straightforward interfaces (like windows and dialog boxes), it can falter with dense, custom UIs or overlapping elements; reviewers from platforms such as Windows Central and The Verge emphasize that while this is a step forward, it is not yet infallible.
Risks and Concerns:

• Hardware Lock-In: Many of these features are available only on Copilot+ PCs, restricting access to devices with dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) hardware. This erodes the universality of the Windows tool experience and could create a two-tier ecosystem.
• Privacy: Any feature that analyzes screen contents using cloud-based models raises questions about data security. Microsoft claims to process information locally when possible, but the lack of explicit, user-facing privacy controls is a concern.

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Paint: AI Creativity Meets Nostalgia​

Microsoft Paint’s evolution has been slow but steady; its addition of layers and background removal features over the past years laid a foundation for deeper functionality. Now, AI continues to reshape its creative boundaries. Two headline additions stand out:

Sticker Generator​

Leveraging Copilot’s image generation smarts, the Sticker Generator allows users to turn a prompt—like “dog on a surfboard”—into a collection of illustrated stickers.

• How It Works:
• Enter a prompt and generate four sticker variations.
• The feature depends on Copilot’s underlying vision models, similar to DALL-E or Stable Diffusion.
• Limitations:
• Outputs are often whimsical but can stray from the prompt’s intent.
• As with the text generation, an account is required, and use may draw from AI credit allocations.

Object Selector​

Arguably the biggest productivity win, Paint’s new Object Selector enables context-aware selections. Users can intuitively click on an element in their artwork or an imported image, and AI identifies and isolates the object for manipulation—copying, color adjustments, or repositioning.

• Old vs. New:
• Previous versions of Paint forced tedious, pixel-by-pixel selections or the magic select hack via Paint 3D.
• Now, AI power matches features found in Adobe Photoshop (Object Select Tool), though, as with professional rivals, accuracy depends on image clarity and contrast.

Access Details:

• Object Select is accessible via the Paint toolbar. Visual feedback appears when hovering, and selection executes with a click.
• Both major features are, again, restricted to Copilot+ PCs per Microsoft’s official statements.

Strengths:

• Lowers the barrier for casual creators, making Paint a viable tool for basic graphic manipulation.
• Integrates modern AI vision features without a steep learning curve.

Weaknesses:

• Quality and reliability are variable. Demos show image generation that sometimes mismatches user expectations—an issue not unique to Microsoft, as all large-scale generative models occasionally “hallucinate.”
• Hardware restrictions mean most Windows users won’t see these features unless they upgrade.

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The Broader Copilot+ Vision​

These AI infusions into classic apps don’t exist in a vacuum. They’re a key part of Microsoft’s Copilot+ platform, built to run on next-generation underlying hardware, including ARM-based “Snapdragon X” processors with NPUs. The trend is reflected across the OS, as AI-based Recall for file search, suggestions for window layouts, and creative tools like Paint and Notepad aim for deeper, more context-sensitive computing.
Advantages:

• Seamless Workflow: For creators, designers, and everyday power users, embedding AI in familiar tools streamlines processes that previously required multiple steps or external software.
• Competitive Edge: Integrating AI at every layer gives Windows a unique selling point compared to macOS and Linux, which mostly rely on third-party solutions for AI-powered workflows.

Potential Downsides:

• Ecosystem Fragmentation: Features limited to Copilot+ PCs may alienate users lingering on Intel or AMD devices without dedicated NPUs, making “Windows 11” a moving target instead of a uniform platform.
• Monetization and Credits: The move toward AI credits, subscriptions, and tied Microsoft accounts could complicate experiences for users seeking simplicity and privacy.
• Data Security: While Microsoft touts local processing for sensitive data, the nature of AI computation often involves cloud services. Transparency and user controls will be essential to maintain trust.

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Community Reception and Early Feedback​

Initial reactions in the Windows community are mixed, mirroring past rollouts of AI features in core productivity apps. Some users welcome the enhancements, labeling the Paint Object Selector and Snipping Tool’s Color Picker as long-overdue improvements. Others are skeptical, viewing Copilot integration as an unnecessary bloat, especially for tools that built their reputation on efficiency.
Tech reviewers highlight three major threads:

• Actual Usefulness: Features like Perfect Screenshot and Object Selector are genuinely time-saving in day-to-day tasks, especially for those who frequently annotate images or need quick edits.
• Novelty vs. Necessity: There is debate about whether text generation in Notepad or sticker generation in Paint meets a real-world need—or simply demonstrates Microsoft’s AI capabilities.
• Access Gaps: The Copilot+ hardware requirement is universally critiqued as a limiting factor. Even highly invested users may balk at features being locked behind new, premium hardware.

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Critical Takeaways and The Future of Simple Tools​

Microsoft’s expansion of AI features into Notepad, Paint, and Snipping Tool marks a significant evolution in the Windows experience. On one hand, these advances democratize powerful tools—aided by the ever-growing power of on-device AI. For years, users needed third-party software or convoluted workarounds for tasks like object selection in Paint or exact region capture in Snipping Tool. Now, these are available natively (at least to those with compatible hardware).
However, the pure software update is complicated by artificial—and entirely intentional—limits. Many features will never reach older hardware, likely as part of Microsoft’s strategy to accelerate Copilot+ PC adoption. This could reshape the “universal” promise that cemented Windows’ legacy, potentially putting must-have features out of reach for millions.
What Stands Out:

• The Color Picker in Snipping Tool and Object Selector in Paint offer the most tangible, universally useful upgrades.
• AI text generation in Notepad feels shoehorned in, more a proof of concept than a response to visible demand.
• The friction between innovation and accessibility is more pronounced than ever, especially as AI becomes a central OS pillar.

Questions to Ask:

• Will Microsoft eventually widen access to Copilot features, or are these truly exclusive to new NPUs and ARM chip platforms?
• How robust are these AI features against edge cases and complex user scenarios—will reliability improve with feedback, or remain inconsistent?
• Can more granular privacy controls and purchase models (such as one-time unlocks, rather than ongoing credits) reduce perceived downsides?

In Summary:
The AI-driven evolution of Windows’ classic tools is both a testament to the rapid maturation of Copilot and a litmus test for Microsoft’s new paradigm: every app, every feature, every moment, “AI-fueled.” For Paint, Notepad, and Snipping Tool, this means newfound powers and capabilities that, in the right workflows, are genuinely useful. But the devil is in the detail—hardware lock-in, monetization schemes, and concerns about privacy remain roadblocks not just for adoption, but for user trust.
For technology journalists and enthusiasts alike, the only certainty is that Windows is no longer just about windows—it’s about what lives behind them: an evolving, sometimes polarizing, layer of artificial intelligence with the potential to elevate or alienate, one update at a time. As these features move from Insider builds to general release, close scrutiny and community feedback will be vital benchmarks for whether Copilot+ truly delivers on its sweeping promises—or simply rebrands old tools for a new generation.

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Source: gHacks Technology News Windows 11: Paint, Notepad and Snipping Tool get even more AI features, and you may find some even useful - gHacks Tech News