Windows Recall (en.wikipedia.org)

Microsoft recently announced "Windows Recall," an AI-driven feature designed to enhance user productivity by taking periodic screenshots of a user's desktop and allowing them to retrieve past information via natural language queries. This feature, which requires high-performance hardware—including a neural processing unit capable of 40 trillion operations per second—also utilizes on-device large language models. However, it has faced significant criticism for potential security and privacy risks, prompting Microsoft to initially delay its rollout and later change the feature to be opt-in and provide options for removal. The controversy surrounding Windows Recall primarily stems from concerns that the feature, in its original form, stored data in an unsecured plaintext database, making it vulnerable to unauthorized access. Critics warn that such a mechanism could pose a security nightmare, particularly given Microsoft's questionable privacy track record. In response to the backlash, Microsoft has reportedly implemented full database encryption in later versions, but skepticism remains, as many users fear their data could eventually be repurposed for advertising. As a result, alternatives like Signal have begun incorporating protective features to mitigate possible breaches from Windows Recall.