Windows 11 Notepad Gets a Major AI Upgrade: A Game-Changer for Productivity
For decades, Notepad has been the simple, no-frills text editor built into Windows—a reliable tool for jotting down quick notes, editing configuration files, or stripping formatting from text. But its days of being just a basic utility are over. In a surprising and powerful update, this humble application is receiving a suite of advanced AI features, transforming it into an intelligent writing assistant.
This significant upgrade, powered by a new feature called “Cowriter,” is rolling out exclusively on the new generation of Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11. It signals a major shift in how AI is being integrated into the core fabric of the operating system, putting sophisticated tools directly into the hands of users for free.
Meet “Cowriter”: Your New AI Assistant in Notepad
The new AI capabilities are designed to streamline writing, editing, and comprehension tasks directly within the Notepad interface. By simply highlighting text and right-clicking, users can access a powerful context menu with several intelligent options.
Here’s a breakdown of the key features:
- Summarize lengthy documents: Have a long block of text, meeting notes, or an article? The Cowriter feature can instantly generate a concise summary, pulling out the most critical points. This is perfect for quickly understanding the gist of a document without reading it in its entirety.
- Rewrite and rephrase content: If you’re struggling with wording, the AI can rephrase sentences or entire paragraphs for you. This helps improve clarity, find alternative phrasing, and overcome writer’s block.
- Adjust length and tone: Need to make your text shorter, longer, or change its style? Cowriter allows you to make text more concise or elaborate on it. You can also change the tone to be more professional, casual, or formal, depending on your audience.
- Explain complex concepts: When faced with technical jargon or a difficult concept, you can use the “Explain” feature. The AI will break down the selected text into simpler, more understandable terms, acting as a built-in knowledge base.
Privacy First: Why Local AI Processing Matters
One of the most important aspects of this upgrade is how it works. Unlike many cloud-based AI tools that send your data to remote servers for processing, Notepad’s Cowriter features run locally on the device.
This is made possible by the Neural Processing Unit (NPU) built into new Copilot+ PCs. An NPU is a specialized chip designed specifically to handle AI tasks efficiently. Processing data locally offers several distinct advantages:
- Enhanced Speed: Since the work is done on your machine, the response is nearly instantaneous. There’s no lag from sending data to the cloud and waiting for a response.
- Improved Privacy and Security: Your text and documents never leave your computer. This is a critical security benefit for anyone working with sensitive or confidential information.
- Offline Functionality: Because the AI models run locally, you can use these powerful features even when you’re not connected to the internet, making it a reliable tool on the go.
Who Can Access These New Features?
Initially, these new AI-powered Notepad features will be available exclusively on newly released Copilot+ PCs. These are devices specifically designed with powerful NPUs to handle the demands of on-device AI.
The update is currently being tested within the Windows Insider Program, which means it will roll out to the general public in a future Windows 11 update for qualifying hardware. Users with older PCs without an NPU will likely not have access to these integrated, locally-run features.
What This Means for Your Workflow
The integration of AI into a fundamental application like Notepad is more than just a novelty; it represents a fundamental improvement to everyday productivity. Instead of switching between different apps or websites for writing assistance, users can now perform complex text manipulations in the same simple window they’ve used for years.
Actionable Tip: If you don’t have a Copilot+ PC yet, you can access similar AI capabilities through the main Copilot app in Windows 11 or within Microsoft Edge. While these are cloud-based, they offer a great way to get familiar with AI-powered summarizing and rewriting tools.
This move solidifies a clear trend: AI is no longer a standalone destination but a deeply integrated utility designed to enhance the tools you already use every day. By upgrading Notepad, Microsoft is making a powerful statement about the future of computing—one where intelligence and assistance are seamlessly woven into every corner of the user experience.
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/notepad-gets-free-ai-features-on-copilot-plus-pcs-with-windows-11/
