Microsoft is encouraging people to talk to their laptops as it rolls out new artificial intelligence updates to Windows 11 and pushes users to phase out its predecessor, Windows 10. Microsoft ended free security support for Windows 10 this week, though millions of people still use personal computers running the older operating system.

Veteran tech journalist Ed Bott joins the GeekWire Podcast to discuss Microsoft’s new Windows 11 AI features — from “Hey Copilot” voice commands to on-device “Copilot Actions” — and what they reveal about the company’s high-stakes push to reinvent Windows for the AI era.

Copilot+ PCs will be on the hardware side of this commitment, with AI features on the software side, as Microsoft hints new “breakthrough performance and native AI experiences” are set to be arriving soon for Windows 11 users, but only those who already own a Copilot+ PC at first.

Users can now use the wake word "Hey Copilot" to activate the AI assistant and execute voice commands in a new opt-in feature on any Windows 11 PC, Microsoft said. The company is also expanding Copilot Vision - which can analyze content on users' screens and answer related questions - to all markets where Copilot is offered.

It doesn't help that many people are still peeved about the death of Windows 10 support this week. Unsurprisingly, the company stresses that "Hey, Copilot" is a purely opt-in feature that's buried in the Copilot app settings. (Of course, that can always change, especially if the company wants to juice AI engagement stats in a few years.)

Microsoft really wants you to use Copilot. In fact, if you try to use ChatGPT or Perplexity in Edge, it'll beg you to try Copilot. Pretty please?

Windows 11’s AI upgrade brings Copilot voice wake word, Vision worldwide, on-device Actions for files, Microsoft/Google connectors, and a staged rollout.

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