Microsoft adds “Hey, Copilot” voice activation to Windows 11

Microsoft is expanding AI-powered features deeper into Windows 11’s core functionality, introducing voice activation with “Hey, Copilot” and new capabilities that allow the assistant to read, edit, and manage files directly. These updates represent Microsoft’s attempt to succeed where Cortana failed by leveraging generative AI to create a more capable voice assistant that can perform complex tasks autonomously.

The big picture: Microsoft is transforming Windows 11’s fundamental features—including the taskbar, Start menu, and File Explorer—into AI-powered interfaces that can understand natural language and take actions on users’ behalf.

Key new features: The rollout includes several major additions designed to make Copilot more integrated and useful.

• Voice activation: Users can now say “Hey, Copilot” to summon the assistant hands-free, similar to Siri or Alexa functionality.
• Enhanced search: The standard Windows Search field is becoming an “Ask Copilot” interface that maintains local file search while adding conversational AI capabilities.
• Copilot Vision worldwide: The feature that reads screen contents and provides contextual guidance is now available globally, plus a new Gaming Copilot beta for game walkthroughs.
• File management: Copilot Actions will handle tasks like sorting vacation photos and extracting information from PDFs, with plans to become “a general-purpose agent” for desktop interactions.

How it works: According to Consumer Chief Marketing Officer Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft envisions AI PCs that can “recognize input naturally, in text or voice” and “take action on your behalf” based on screen context.

• The assistant can be activated via voice, the dedicated Copilot key, or Windows + C keyboard shortcut.
• Users dismiss Copilot by saying “goodbye” when finished.
• Copilot Connectors provide access to services like Gmail and Dropbox.
• New document creation features export chat contents directly to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Why this matters: These features address the core limitation that doomed previous voice assistants like Cortana—their inability to handle complex queries beyond predetermined actions.

• Traditional assistants often bounced complex requests to web search, shifting responsibility back to users.
• Microsoft’s “agentic” AI approach aims to have software complete tasks autonomously in the background.
• The integration into core Windows features gives these capabilities much wider reach than Copilot+ PC-exclusive features like Recall.

Learning from past mistakes: Microsoft appears to have absorbed lessons from the botched Windows Recall launch, implementing stronger security measures and testing protocols.

• Copilot Actions run with dedicated user accounts to limit data access.
• All agent activities are documented for user verification and error correction.
• Features include mandatory code-signing and minimal privilege principles.
• Unlike Recall’s initial rollout, all new features will go through Windows Insider Preview testing first.

What they’re saying: Dana Huang, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Windows Security, detailed the security architecture in an accompanying post, emphasizing privacy protections and user control over AI agent activities.