Microsoft Enhances Windows 11 with AI-Powered Paint and Smarter Search

Alongside improvements to Paint, Microsoft is enhancing Windows Search by expanding semantic indexing to include OneDrive files and photos

Microsoft has introduced a new Windows 11 Insider Preview update, bringing significant improvements to Microsoft Paint and Windows Search. Available to Canary and Dev channel users, the update integrates a dedicated Copilot menu into Paint and enhances Windows Search with advanced semantic indexing for OneDrive files. However, these new features will be exclusive to the upcoming Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. Microsoft Paint now includes a dedicated Copilot button that organizes all AI-powered tools in one place. Over the past two years, Microsoft has been adding AI-driven features such as Cocreator, which generates AI-based images from doodles with adjustable enhancement levels, and Image Creator, a text-to-image tool that produces visuals based on user prompts. Other features include Generative Erase, which removes unwanted objects while blending the background seamlessly, and Remove Background, a one-click tool for cleaner edits. These tools are now neatly grouped within the Copilot menu, located on the right side of the toolbar. Clicking on this menu reveals all available AI-powered tools along with their descriptions, making it easier for users to access them. However, Cocreator remains exclusive to Copilot+ PCs.

Alongside improvements to Paint, Microsoft is enhancing Windows Search by expanding semantic indexing to include OneDrive files and photos. Initially introduced last month, this feature uses natural language processing to refine search results and make finding files faster and more intuitive. With this update, users will be able to search OneDrive-stored documents and images more efficiently. Like the Paint Copilot menu, this new search enhancement is also exclusive to Copilot+ PCs.

These updates reflect Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to AI integration within Windows 11. By enhancing Paint with AI-powered tools and improving Windows Search with smarter indexing, Microsoft is pushing towards a more intuitive and intelligent computing experience. While these features are currently limited to Copilot+ PCs, they highlight the company’s vision for an AI-driven future, where everyday tasks like image editing and file searching become more seamless and efficient.