Microsoft has quietly begun testing a conversational, meaning‑aware file and image search inside the Copilot app on Windows 11, a change that lets you describe what you’re looking for instead of hunting for exact filenames — and it’s arriving first to Copilot+ PCs as a staged Windows Insider preview.
Microsoft has been steadily folding larger and more capable AI subsystems into Windows under the Copilot and Copilot+ initiatives. The newest preview, delivered as Copilot app builds beginning with version 1.25082.132.0, introduces two visible upgrades: semantic file search within the Copilot app and a redesigned Copilot home that surfaces recent apps, files, and conversation history. The update is being distributed to Windows Insiders via the Microsoft Store as a gradual, feature‑flagged rollout.
This is the next step in a broader push to move Windows search from literal string matching to intent‑aware retrieval — a shift that pairs semantic indexing with visual descriptors and, where available, on‑device inference powered by a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). The objective: let users ask questions like “find my CV,” “find images of bridges at sunset on my PC,” or “find the file with the chicken tostada recipe” and get accurate results without remembering file names or exact words.
Benefits include:
Competitors are also pushing in similar directions: screen‑aware assistants and local AI experiences are becoming table stakes across platforms. Microsoft’s hardware gating strategy — shipping the richest experiences first on 40+ TOPS NPUs — is a pragmatic approach to ensure responsiveness and privacy but will create a staggered user experience while OEM and silicon ecosystems catch up. (wired.com, tomsguide.com)
For those with eligible hardware, the preview offers a meaningful productivity boost to test now. For businesses and administrators, the prudent path is to pilot, audit index artifacts and telemetry, and apply policy controls that align Copilot’s new capabilities with organizational risk tolerance and compliance requirements.
Source: PCMag https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-is-testing-semantic-search-for-copilot-app-on-windows-11/
Microsoft has been steadily folding larger and more capable AI subsystems into Windows under the Copilot and Copilot+ initiatives. The newest preview, delivered as Copilot app builds beginning with version 1.25082.132.0, introduces two visible upgrades: semantic file search within the Copilot app and a redesigned Copilot home that surfaces recent apps, files, and conversation history. The update is being distributed to Windows Insiders via the Microsoft Store as a gradual, feature‑flagged rollout. This is the next step in a broader push to move Windows search from literal string matching to intent‑aware retrieval — a shift that pairs semantic indexing with visual descriptors and, where available, on‑device inference powered by a Neural Processing Unit (NPU). The objective: let users ask questions like “find my CV,” “find images of bridges at sunset on my PC,” or “find the file with the chicken tostada recipe” and get accurate results without remembering file names or exact words.
What Microsoft shipped in the preview
Headline features
- Semantic file and image search inside the Copilot app — Natural‑language queries return matching local files by meaning rather than exact filename or keyword matches. This capability is initially limited to Copilot+ PCs (devices with qualifying NPUs).
- Redesigned Copilot home — A dashboard that surfaces recent apps, files, and conversation history, plus a “get guided help” area that can launch Copilot Vision sessions for contextual, on‑screen assistance. Clicking a recent file uploads it into the Copilot chat for summarization or follow‑up Q&A.
- Vision / Desktop Share and Guided Help — When an app is chosen from the “get guided help” area, Copilot Vision can scan the selected window or the whole desktop (with permission) and guide the user through tasks step‑by‑step. Earlier Vision updates added multi‑app sharing and highlights; the new home explicitly ties that capability to quick access workflows.
Supported formats and languages (preview)
Microsoft lists supported upload types and languages in the preview announcement. In the initial rollout the Copilot app will handle uploads and processing for common document and image formats and is optimized for the following languages:- Supported upload/file preview types: .png, .jpeg, .svg, .pdf, .docx, .xlsx, .csv, .json, .txt.
- Preview optimization languages: English, Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Japanese, Spanish.
Availability and rollout
- The Copilot app update is version 1.25082.132.0 and higher and is rolling out gradually to Windows Insiders across channels. Not every Insider will receive the update immediately because distribution is controlled by feature flags, device eligibility, and regional gating.
How semantic search works (technical summary)
Two indexes: lexical + semantic
The new system complements the classic Windows Search index with a secondary, semantic index. Traditional indexing still handles filenames, metadata, and literal full‑text matches. The semantic index stores vector embeddings for textual content and descriptive metadata for images (object labels, visual descriptors). Queries are converted into embeddings and evaluated via nearest‑neighbor retrieval to surface items that match meaning rather than token matches. (blogs.windows.com, neowin.net)On‑device inference and the NPU
Where available, Copilot routes semantic processing to the machine’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to reduce latency and keep data local. Microsoft’s Copilot+ program defines a Copilot+ PC as a device that includes an NPU capable of 40+ TOPS (trillions of operations per second). That class of silicon is used to run the lightweight local models that power improved search responsiveness and offline operation in many scenarios. (microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)File scope: indexed and recent locations
In the preview, results are surfaced primarily from the Windows “Recent” folder and other indexed locations configured by Windows Search (Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows). The system does not silently scan or upload the entire disk by default; user action (clicking a file to attach) or explicit permission in Copilot settings is required to process or send a file into a chat session. (blogs.windows.com, neowin.net)Why this matters — user experience and productivity
For most users, file discovery remains a frequent friction point. Filenames are often shorthand memories that fail when weeks have passed or documents move between folders. Semantic search addresses this by enabling intent‑first discovery: describe what you remember, and Copilot finds the most likely matches.Benefits include:
- Faster retrieval for forgotten filenames, partial memories, or visual attributes.
- Inline previews and the ability to attach a found file into a Copilot chat immediately for summarization, extraction, or Vision‑driven analysis.
- Reduced context switching: find a file and get the answer in the same Copilot flow rather than opening File Explorer, then copying, then switching apps. (neowin.net, blogs.windows.com)
Privacy, trust, and security: promises and caveats
Microsoft’s preview messaging emphasizes on‑device processing and explicit permissions. Key claims and what they mean in practice:- Microsoft states that only files that are compatible and recently accessed will appear, and that nothing is shared unless you explicitly attach a file to Copilot. The Copilot Settings page exposes permissions that control what the app can access, retrieve, or read.
- On Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft highlights the ability for semantic search to operate locally on the device’s NPU, enabling offline capabilities and a smaller privacy surface because routine queries can be handled without cloud round trips. The Copilot+ documentation explicitly references NPUs with 40+ TOPS as an enabling class of hardware. (microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)
- Independent coverage and Microsoft’s own blog material also note that the preview surfaces results from indexed/recent locations and that a user must manually choose to upload a file to Copilot for it to be processed in chat. That said, the interaction model adds new paths where sensitive content could be handed to Copilot by user action, and organizations should treat those paths as potential risk vectors. (neowin.net, blogs.windows.com)
- Microsoft’s high‑level privacy statements are credible but still leave operational questions for enterprises: Where exactly are embeddings stored? Are indexes encrypted at rest and tied to a TPM/Pluton key? How does on‑device inference behave when a device is configured with corporate backup or cloud storage? Those specifics are essential for compliance assessments and are not exhaustively documented in the public preview notes. Administrators should assume index artifacts and local embeddings may persist on disk unless explicitly stated otherwise and should test accordingly. (blogs.windows.com, microsoft.com)
- The claim that local operation prevents data leaving the device is conditional. When users explicitly attach files to a Copilot chat or use Vision desktop sharing, those actions may trigger cloud processing depending on feature design and account settings. The blog post repeatedly frames attachments as an explicit permission model; still, administrators should verify the telemetry, network endpoints, and conditional cloud‑fallback behaviors in their environment.
- Semantic matching increases the chance of false positives and contextual leakage (for example, pulling near‑matches that contain personal data). This is not a malicious leak; it’s an accuracy trade‑off inherent to similarity search. Users and IT should tune indexing scopes and educate users about the implications of attaching files into AI chats.
Hardware gating and deployment implications
Copilot+ PC requirements
- Copilot+ certification centers on devices with high‑performance NPUs (40+ TOPS), Pluton security integration, and other hardware signals that enable the most advanced, low‑latency AI features such as local semantic search. Microsoft’s Copilot+ pages and developer guidance make the 40+ TOPS threshold explicit. (microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)
- Wave 1 of Copilot+ support prioritized Qualcomm Snapdragon X‑series devices, with AMD and Intel NPU platforms added later. The implication: many existing Windows 11 devices will not get the on‑device performance benefit initially; cloud or degraded fallbacks may be used on non‑Copilot+ hardware. (blogs.windows.com, microsoft.com)
IT and enterprise considerations
- Pilot on Copilot+ hardware first — measure indexing scope, disk usage, and impact to backup/DR workflows.
- Review and tighten the list of indexed locations via Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows. Default behavior surfaces the Windows “Recent” folder; consider disabling or narrowing that scope for regulated environments.
- Validate that organizational policies and DLP rules block unintentional upload paths. The act of attaching a file to Copilot is explicit, but users may do this accidentally or under pressure; gate that action via enterprise controls where possible.
- Confirm logging and telemetry: determine whether file names, embeddings, or query metadata are recorded and where those logs are stored. These operational details matter for audits.
Accuracy, limits, and UX trade‑offs
- The preview restricts initial results to files in indexed or recent locations and to a defined set of file types. This reduces attack surface and indexing load, but it also means a user’s sought file might be missed if it’s in an unindexed folder or remote cloud store (OneDrive integrations are slated for future flights).
- Vision sessions and the home dashboard streamline support workflows, but they introduce new UI affordances that require careful design to avoid accidental sharing. The “get guided help” flow is powerful — Copilot can now inspect entire app windows or the desktop when permitted — which makes consent flows and visual indicators critical for trust.
- Semantic search accuracy varies by language, file complexity, and how well the semantic index parses domain‑specific documents. The preview is optimized for six languages and common file formats; accuracy will improve with broader indexing, additional languages, and model refinement.
How to try this now (Insider steps)
- Confirm device eligibility — a Copilot+ PC is required for full on‑device semantic behavior. See device specs and Copilot+ certification guidance.
- Join Windows Insider and enroll the device in a supported channel. The feature is rolling out via the Microsoft Store as a staged update.
- Update the Copilot app to version 1.25082.132.0 or later via the Microsoft Store. If the update does not appear, the staged rollout may not yet have reached the device.
- Inspect Copilot Settings > Permissions to confirm what the app may access. Limit the index scope if required via Settings > Privacy & security > Searching Windows.
Assessing the tradeoffs — strengths and risks
Strengths
- Real productivity wins: Natural‑language retrieval reduces friction and accelerates common tasks like resume retrieval, recipe lookup, or finding event photographs.
- On‑device performance and privacy: Running lightweight semantic inference on a local NPU reduces latency and can minimize cloud exposure for routine queries. The Copilot+ model leverages NPUs to enable offline behavior.
- Integrated workflows: Tightly coupling search results with Copilot chat and Vision sessions collapses find‑then‑act workflows into a single interface.
Risks and unknowns
- Index residency and persistence: Embeddings and semantic index artifacts may persist locally; organizations must validate storage, encryption, and retention policies.
- User behavior risk: The explicit “attach” action reduces accidental uploads, but training and DLP controls are still necessary to prevent human error.
- Cloud fallbacks and telemetry: The public preview clarifies local behavior but does not fully map every fallback or telemetry endpoint. Enterprises should verify data flows and conditional cloud processing behaviors in their environment.
Practical recommendations
- For consumers: try the Copilot home and semantic search on an eligible device, but review Copilot Settings and the Windows Search indexing scope before relying on the feature for sensitive documents.
- For IT teams:
- Pilot on a small set of Copilot+ devices and document dataflows.
- Define a policy for the Copilot app (who can use it, where, and with what restrictions).
- Use endpoint management to control which folders are indexed.
- Validate DLP and logging for any path that allows user attachments to Copilot.
- For OEMs and developers: adopt the Windows AI Foundry and ONNX tooling to ensure local models and apps behave predictably on NPU hardware; measure performance and battery impact under real workloads.
The bigger picture: Copilot as Windows’ discovery layer
This preview is another step toward Microsoft’s vision of Copilot as the central discovery and assistance layer in Windows. By folding semantic search, Vision, and conversational actions into one app and tying advanced behaviors to Copilot+ hardware, Microsoft is betting that the combination of on‑device acceleration and a permissioned UX will convince users and organizations to move away from fractured search patterns and multiple third‑party tools. (blogs.windows.com, microsoft.com)Competitors are also pushing in similar directions: screen‑aware assistants and local AI experiences are becoming table stakes across platforms. Microsoft’s hardware gating strategy — shipping the richest experiences first on 40+ TOPS NPUs — is a pragmatic approach to ensure responsiveness and privacy but will create a staggered user experience while OEM and silicon ecosystems catch up. (wired.com, tomsguide.com)
Conclusion
The Copilot app’s semantic search preview transforms how users will look for files on Windows by emphasizing meaning over string matches and by tying search results directly into conversational workflows and Vision‑driven guided help. The staged rollout to Insiders on Copilot+ hardware shows the direction Microsoft intends for Windows: a more conversational, context‑aware OS where on‑device NPUs handle the bulk of user data processing when available. The core promises — faster discovery, local inference for privacy and speed, and integrated help flows — are compelling, but enterprises and privacy‑conscious users must validate indexing scope, data residency, and attachment behaviors before broadly enabling the feature.For those with eligible hardware, the preview offers a meaningful productivity boost to test now. For businesses and administrators, the prudent path is to pilot, audit index artifacts and telemetry, and apply policy controls that align Copilot’s new capabilities with organizational risk tolerance and compliance requirements.
Source: PCMag https://www.pcmag.com/news/microsoft-is-testing-semantic-search-for-copilot-app-on-windows-11/