Microsoft Revives Beloved Windows 10 Feature: Get Excited for “Hey Copilot”

Will Microsoft unveil Windows 12 soon? The anticipation has grown following the announcement of Windows 10’s official end of life.

As the week progressed, Microsoft began teasing a significant reveal slated for Thursday.

Well, today is Thursday, and the reveal is here—settle down, folks. The highlight is a new voice mode for Microsoft Copilot, activated by the wake phrase: “Hey, Copilot.”

“Hey Cortana”Makes a Comeback

Transitioning to AI Integration

As Microsoft concludes its Windows 10 era, it fittingly transitions into a new chapter with a nod to its earlier innovation—Cortana. Launched in 2015 with Windows 10, Cortana served as the virtual assistant with the trigger phrase “Hey Cortana.” Despite its early potential, many users criticized it, likening it to a less effective version of Clippy, leading to a surge of articles focused on its removal.

Now, Microsoft replaces the earlier phrase with “Hey Copilot, ” allowing users to summon its AI assistant effortlessly, bypassing traditional navigation. Once activated, users can interact with Copilot similarly to how they might dictate commands using a keyboard or by employing its voice mode.

Empowering Your Desktop with Agentic AI

The Promise of Copilot Actions for Windows 11

While the introduction of “Hey Copilot”may seem modest, it gains significance alongside another feature set to enhance Windows 11: Copilot Actions. Announced in May 2025, Microsoft’s Copilot Actions serves as an agentic AI solution designed to streamline your web navigation and tasks.

Much like Opera’s Neon browser, which can complete tasks independently, Copilot Actions is extending beyond browsing, entering the realm of desktop functionality. It can automate document updates, file organization, email dispatch, and more. Initially, Windows Insiders will experience this feature within Copilot Labs, albeit with limited capabilities.

Over time, the system is expected to evolve, handling increasingly sophisticated tasks, allowing users to concentrate on more critical projects while Copilot manages the repetitive details.

Despite its promising functions, concerns over security and privacy remain crucial. Microsoft employs dedicated agent accounts with restricted capabilities, ensuring that major alterations still require user approval. Furthermore, users can set limitations on what files the AI can access.

During the experimental preview of Copilot Actions, the agent will have access to a limited set of the user’s local known folders—such as Documents, Downloads, Desktop, or Pictures—and other resources that are accessible to all accounts on the system. Only when the user provides authorization can Copilot Actions access data outside of these folders. Standard Windows security mechanisms like access control lists (ACLs) help prevent unauthorized use.

Microsoft aims to gather feedback throughout the testing phase to refine the granular controls necessary for the success of Copilot Actions within Windows 11, focusing on user authorization, monitoring, and control over the agent’s actions.

AI Integration in File Explorer

Transforming File Management

Moreover, Microsoft is set to embed the Manus AI agent into File Explorer. The precise reasoning for utilizing Manus instead of Copilot for certain tasks remains unclear, but this AI chatbot aims to assist users with more complex operations.

For instance, users may select a document alongside some images to right-click and choose the option “Create a website with Manus.”With this feature, it’s proposed that Manus can compile an entire webpage using the provided materials. This process will utilize the Model Context Protocol, a new framework for agentic AI, to identify and utilize the necessary resources efficiently.

Are You Ready for More Copilot AI?

An Array of Future Updates

While Microsoft’s initial announcement focused on the rather simplistic “Hey Copilot”feature, it was accompanied by several intriguing developments. Although the official Windows account stirred excitement with its promotional posts, the reveal is not as underwhelming as it may seem.

However, with the rising phenomenon of AI fatigue, many users express disinterest in these advancements. Sales of Copilot+ PCs and laptops are increasing, primarily due to becoming the new standard specification. Nonetheless, many users might find this level of AI integration unnecessary, and Microsoft’s focus appears to be on marginal enhancements at this stage.

Nevertheless, if Copilot Actions successfully brings the productivity benefits observed in browser-based agentic AI to the desktop, it could be a game-changer. Still, substantial privacy and security implications need to be addressed, and adapting to these features may take considerable time and trust.

Source & Images