Microsoft is targeting 2024 to be labeled as “the year of the AI Computer,” commencing this initiative with a significant modification to the keyboard layout on forthcoming laptops and PCs. The incorporation of a fresh Copilot key on a variety of devices from Microsoft’s collaborators will grant users prompt access to the AI-powered Windows Copilot experience directly from a dedicated keyboard button.
This Copilot key signifies a notable deviation from the conventional Windows Laptop keyboard configuration, which has remained predominantly unaltered for almost three decades. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, contemplates on this milestone, expressing, “Nearly 30 years ago, we introduced the Windows key to the PC keyboard, facilitating global connectivity. We perceive the introduction of the Copilot key as another significant moment in our Windows journey, acting as the entry point to the realm of AI on the PC.”
The novel Copilot key will replace the menu key (application key) that has been a constant alongside the Windows key for numerous years. Positioned adjacent to the right-hand alt key on most laptops, its precise placement may differ among various OEMs and markets. Notably, it occupies the same spot where Microsoft integrated a dedicated Office key in 2019. The Copilot key is crafted to launch the Windows Copilot feature embedded within Windows 11, granting users access to a ChatGPT-like chatbot for responding to inquiries or executing tasks within the operating system.
In regions where Windows Copilot is not yet accessible, pressing the Copilot key will activate Windows Search instead. While the existing Windows key can unveil the Start menu or be paired with other keys for diverse shortcuts, the Copilot key presently operates as an independent command. It remains unclear whether Microsoft plans to enable the Copilot key to be utilized in conjunction with other keys in the future.
Microsoft has not revealed which OEMs will embrace the Copilot key, reserving such declarations for the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show and beyond. Mehdi has hinted that the Copilot key will premiere on new Windows 11 PCs from Microsoft’s hardware partners, with availability set to kick off later this month and extend through the spring, encompassing upcoming Surface devices.
Validation of the dedicated Copilot key on Surface products underscores the company’s dedication to this advancement. Reports propose that Microsoft will introduce new versions of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 models in the forthcoming spring.
This groundbreaking Copilot key epitomizes a broader transition towards AI-driven enhancements scheduled for Windows in 2024. Microsoft has been progressively integrating Copilot across its ecosystem in readiness for this shift. Mehdi envisions 2024 as a crucial year ushering in a new epoch of personalized and intelligent computing, with AI seamlessly integrated into Windows at the system, silicon, and hardware levels. This concerted endeavor strives to enhance users’ computing experiences and establish 2024 as the year of the AI PC.
Microsoft is actively formulating a Windows “refresh” that will accentuate new AI capabilities, integrating AI across a wider spectrum of its technologies and services. Notably, Microsoft has designated Microsoft Edge as the “Artificial website,” indicating the company’s persistent commitment to advancing AI technologies.
