Microsoft makes delayed AI Recall feature available
Microsoft's Recall feature is finally ready for broad use across its AI-enabled PC line after months of delays and significant security changes, the company announced Friday.
Why it matters: First shown last May, Recall — which promises to help users find anything they ever saw anywhere on their computer by taking frequent snapshots of the screen — was intended to be the signature feature of the first generation of Copilot+ PCs that hit stores last year.
Driving the news: Microsoft said Friday that Recall is now available as part of a free, downloadable update for all Copilot+ PCs, whether they use processors from Intel, AMD or Qualcomm.
In addition to Recall, the update includes AI-powered improvements to Windows Search and a feature called "click to do" that allows people to summarize or refine text with a single click, among other actions.
Catch up quick: Recall, which works by feeding its screenshots of everything a user sees into AI models, was quickly criticized by security experts who warned the approach presented safety and privacy risks — even though the AI is designed to only run locally on the user's computer.
Microsoft made a number of tweaks, including requiring biometric authentication and encrypting the data.
Recall is now opt-in, and users can choose which apps use the feature and which do not.
The changes took time, though, and the resulting delay forced Microsoft to spend last year focusing on the performance and battery life of Copilot+ PCs instead of their AI wizardry.
The big picture: Microsoft and Apple have been promoting the AI features of their latest devices, but both companies have struggled to deliver on their visions.
For many users, the most significant AI feature remains "using ChatGPT" or some other cloud-based AI service.
What they're saying: Microsoft acknowledges the delay may have cost it some momentum, but the company also says its work improving Recall will help fuel other AI features.
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