Exploring the New Home Tab in Windows 11 Copilot
The latest update for Copilot on Windows 11 introduces a revamped “Home” tab that replaces the previous chat-centric interface commonly used by AI assistants. This new design gives users a Start menu-like experience, serving as a central hub for accessing various apps and files with ease. Copilot’s Home tab streamlines access to all its AI features, enhancing your workflow.
Features of the Updated Copilot Interface
Upon updating via the Microsoft Store, I discovered a visually distinct Home tab within Copilot. While it still welcomes users with a greeting, the most significant innovation is a new title bar feature that allows toggling between the Home tab and the traditional conversation-based interface, which displays previous chats and interactions.
Dynamic Card System and File Access
Within the Home tab, users will encounter four prominently displayed cards reminiscent of live tiles from Windows 8; however, these cards offer dynamic functionality. They serve as gateways to your recently accessed files, contingent on the feature being activated in the settings menu.
During our testing, Windows Latest observed that the “Jump back into your files” card efficiently retrieves recently viewed documents from the Quick Access section of File Explorer. Users can interact with this card to view a list of files, with options to Open, Attach to prompt, or Summarize using a three-dot menu next to each file name.
Navigating Windows with Copilot
Opening a file, such as a Word document, launches MS Word—this default behavior suggests that the new Copilot Home tab is not solely limited to conversational AI, but is also designed to enhance navigation throughout the Windows environment. This innovative feature indicates a potential shift in how we might interact with Windows in the future.
Upon selecting the “Attach to prompt” option, the chosen file is integrated into the message composition area for analysis after dispatching. There’s also a toggle to “Hide all recent files” that allows users to customize their experience further, reducing the number of visible cards if needed.
Additional Cards and User Interactivity
Though some cards are less engaging, one particularly useful card provides quick access to past Copilot conversations. Beneath that is the “Work on Copilot Pages” card, akin to ChatGPT’s Canvas feature, facilitating document and code editing.
Another intriguing addition is the “Get guided help with your apps” card, which highlights recently used applications like Power BI, File Explorer, and WhatsApp. Clicking a tile activates a Vision session, enabling Copilot to see your screen and listen to your voice as it assists you in navigating the selected application.
For instance, selecting Power BI triggers a permission prompt, allowing Copilot Vision to access your screen. Once approved, the interface updates, indicating what Copilot is viewing, which in this case, is your Power BI workspace.
Future Enhancements and Potential
In our evaluations, references emerged hinting at the introduction of a powerful ChatGPT-driven Agent feature. This agent would facilitate launching a terminal and browser within a Linux shell hosted on an Azure cloud virtual machine. Such functionality could enable Copilot to perform tasks like booking tickets or orchestrating travel plans, ushering in a new level of efficiency.
While currently unavailable in the Copilot for Windows 11 experience, this highly advanced feature is anticipated in upcoming updates.
Overall, the vision for Copilot within Windows is clear. Microsoft aims to extend beyond a mere “chat with AI”model. The Home tab in Copilot encourages users to utilize its assistance not only for accessing files but for improving productivity with documents and spreadsheets through AI integration. Although the features may still be limited, the potential for innovation and enhanced functionality is evident.
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