Leaked Windows 11 Feature Shows Copilot Moving into File Explorer (www.techrepublic.com)

Microsoft's latest preview build of Windows 11 reveals an upcoming integration of its AI tool, Copilot, directly into File Explorer. An invisible button tied to the generative AI chatbot will allow users to execute tasks such as locating specific documents or file types without relying on traditional search processes. This improvement aims to enhance the often-criticized search capabilities of File Explorer, which has been plagued by slow performance and unreliable results, prompting many users to depend on third-party solutions for efficient file management. The significance of this development lies in Microsoft's ongoing strategy to embed Copilot throughout its Windows ecosystem and the Microsoft 365 suite, with a focus on leveraging OpenAI's technology for productivity enhancement. This evolution of Copilot is expected to pave the way for a new framework, known as Agent Launchers, which would facilitate the seamless integration of diverse AI agents into Windows. Such advancements are poised to revolutionize how users interact with their devices, streamlining workflows and making generative AI assistants integral to daily tasks, thereby moving the AI frontier from traditional interfaces to more embedded, functional roles within common applications.