Windows 11 Trials New Taskbar Companions: Could This Be Another AI Feature?

Microsoft seems to be exploring an innovative taskbar feature known as “companions, ”which is likely another enhancement driven by artificial intelligence.

According to insights from Windows Latest, the technology giant is investigating the integration of “AI”functionalities into the taskbar. Recent observations made by Xeno on X have unveiled references suggesting that these Companions may be the forthcoming “AI”feature intended for the taskbar, aligning with earlier expectations.

Renowned Microsoft analyst Phantom confirmed that initial mentions of companions surfaced in Windows Server Build 26454, lending credibility to the findings.

Furthermore, preview builds for Windows 11 include indications of “Agentic”Companions within the taskbar framework. This matches previous reports from Windows Latest, hinting that the proposed AI actions for the taskbar and these Agentic Companions could indeed be synonymous.

A recent Insider build contains a string that specifies, “Controls visibility of agentic companions on the taskbar.” Additionally, there are references to “Taskbar Extensibility, ” suggesting a potential connection to the Taskbar Companion feature. However, it’s important to note that none of these functionalities are currently operational in Windows, and relevant settings toggles remain absent.

This isn’t Microsoft’s first venture into enhancing the taskbar. Earlier initiatives included a “recommendations”feature intended to display relevant suggestions on the taskbar, although this idea has been put on hold following the departure of Mikhail Parakhin. Parakhin, the former head of Copilot and Bing, envisioned leveraging the taskbar to promote more Bing and web-related content.

Upcoming Taskbar Features for Windows 11

In addition to Companions, Microsoft is also trialing a “shared audio” feature, albeit not strictly taskbar-related.

This capability will enable users to connect multiple audio devices to a single PC, allowing simultaneous playback of music through different outputs. This improvement works particularly well with Bluetooth devices, as modern Bluetooth adapters support audio streaming to multiple outputs concurrently.

Another significant update includes the addition of seconds to the clock display on the taskbar. Currently, the Calendar flyout features only hours and minutes; however, it is expected to receive an update that incorporates seconds into the display.

Windows 11 Clock in Notification Center — Image Courtesy: WindowsLatest.com

The screenshot above illustrates the fully-featured clock in the updated calendar flyout. This enhancement is anticipated to be rolled out to Windows 11 in the coming weeks, currently being tested with Windows Insiders, and has already been implemented on Windows 10.

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