AI Features May Bring Me Back to Paint and Notepad

Your daily Windows applications are set to become significantly more intelligent. As highlighted in Microsoft’s Windows Insiders Blog, upcoming enhancements to the Paint and Notepad apps in Windows 11 will incorporate new AI features designed to facilitate user interaction. These updates are still in the early testing phase, and no definitive timeline has been provided regarding wider availability.

The Notepad app for Windows 11 has recently received an update that included autocorrect and spellcheck features. The next addition will be a Rewrite functionality that enables users to rephrase selected text based on specified instructions.

This AI rewriting feature allows users to tailor the AI’s responses in several ways: they can request longer responses, adjust the tone, or select different formats. There will also be a Replace button to apply the generated text easily. Users can activate the feature by highlighting the text, right-clicking, and selecting Rewrite, or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + I.

Microsoft also notes, “All previous versions will remain accessible in the current dialog, allowing you to revert to earlier texts if necessary. If you wish, you can disable the rewrite option in the app settings.”

Currently, this feature is available only to testers located in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Germany, France, and Italy, and a Microsoft account is required to access it. There has been no word on whether this feature will be extended to additional countries. Furthermore, Microsoft claims that the Notepad app will experience performance enhancements, potentially running up to 35% faster, with some users seeing as much as a 55% boost.

Turning to the Paint app, it will soon feature an AI-driven generative fill capability, allowing users to add AI-generated elements to images. For instance, by selecting an area and typing in a text prompt, users can generate a new image element like a castle, which will be integrated into the existing view at the press of a Create button. If the outcome is unsatisfactory, users can simply request the AI to attempt again.

Additionally, there will be a generative erase feature, enabling users to eliminate unwanted objects from the background. By brushing over the targeted area, the AI facilitates the removal process. However, there is a limitation: the generative fill feature will initially only be available on Copilot+ PCs equipped with a Snapdragon CPU, making it inaccessible to users on standard computers that lack the necessary advanced processing units.

Earlier this year, Paint introduced its first AI feature, Cocreator, coinciding with the phased out Paint 3D.

Microsoft is proceeding cautiously with these innovative features, especially following issues surrounding Recall. The company intends to monitor user feedback before a broader rollout.