Notepad's AI writing features will soon run locally on Copilot+ PCs (www.engadget.com)

Microsoft is rolling Notepad’s AI writing tools—summarize, write and rewrite—to run locally on Copilot+ PCs, meaning on-device generation with no CoPilot Pro or Microsoft 365 subscription required. Previously those features were cloud‑only behind a paywall; local inference on Copilot+ hardware should cut latency, support offline use, and improve privacy/control for users who prefer not to send text to Microsoft’s servers. For subscribers who also own a Copilot+ PC, Microsoft will let you choose between local and cloud generation. The feature is currently being tested with Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels and is available in English only for now. The latest Insider build also expands Paint and Snipping Tool functionality: Paint can now save in-progress work as .paint “projects” via File > Save as project and adds an opacity slider for pencil and brush tools (building on last year’s AI image features), while Snipping Tool gains a quick-markup option in the post-capture toolbar. All changes are part of the Insider beta flow (anyone can join with a Microsoft account), and Microsoft may still cancel features before general release—yet the move underscores a broader push toward edge/on‑device AI on Windows PCs.