Windows Stuns the Tech World with ‘Recall’: AI Memory Feature
Recently, Microsoft announced Copilot+ PCs, computers powered by AI to provide the fastest and most intelligent Windows experience to date. One of the most fascinating features announced is Recall. Using Copilot+’s Recall feature, users can go back in time and find anything that they have seen on their computers before.
The Inside Story: Exploring the Details Behind Recall
Since the announcement of the Recall feature, many customers have been curious about how it works. Basically, with Copilot+ PCs, users can scroll through time to access the things that they have seen before on their screens. This can be very helpful when users need to find a file or page but don’t remember its location or address.
“Do you want a photographic memory? The next best thing is Recall. Check out this new experience only available on Copilot+ PCs,” said Yusuf Mehdi, the Corporate Vice President of Microsoft, in a tweet.
The Recall feature was planned to be available on day one with the release of the new Copilot+ PCs, but considering the feedback from consumers and their concern about the security of this feature, Microsoft decided to delay it. According to an update released on the Windows blog, “Recall will now shift from a preview experience broadly available for Copilot+ PCs on June 18, 2024, to a preview available first in the Windows Insider Program (WIP) in the coming weeks.”
There are two different ways to find things you are looking for with Recall:
- Open the “Recall” app on the windows, and type the name or attributes of things you are trying to find. Then, Recall will show you everything related to the topic that you have seen on screen before.
- Using the timeline feature in the Recall app, users are able to scroll across days and times to find the exact screen. So, even if you don’t have a description or name for what you are looking for, Recall can help you immensely.
After finding the exact screen, Recall will analyze the screenshot, allowing you to click on the item(s) and go to the related link. It can be a web page or a certain project on an application.
Why Understanding Recall Matters For Privacy and Security
The way Recall works is controversial. It continuously screenshots the user’s activity on Windows to capture everything that has happened on the screen. Now, many people are worried that sensitive information like passwords will be captured.
In the first presentation, Microsoft quickly addressed concerns and presented a few solutions to minimize the possible privacy violations while using Recall:
- The Recall index of every user will be private and saved locally only on the device itself.
- The information and screenshots won’t be accessible to Microsoft or anyone who doesn’t have access to the specific user profile.
- None of the information will be used to train any AI models.
- Recall is only can be enabled if you sign in with Windows Hello.
- Users can edit or delete any screenshots that have been saved.
- Recall will be off by default. After activation, there is an option to disable or pause the Recall feature.
- Users can determine what apps or websites can be captured by Recall.
Recall Alert: Discover How This Safety Concern Impacts You
However, many people are not satisfied with these privacy safeguards and are asking Microsoft to make this feature more secure and user-friendly. To improve Recall’s privacy and security measures, Microsoft changed the plan to release it alongside the first wave of Copilot+ PCs. Recall will first be available in the Windows Insider Program on an unspecified date.
FAQ
How to disable Recall AI on Windows?
Turn off Recall using Windows settings.
Step 1: Open ‘Settings’.
Step 2: Visit ‘Privacy & security’.
Step 3: Choose ‘Recall and snapshots’.
Step 4: Turn off ‘Recall’.
What is Recall?
Windows Recall, is a new Windows 11 tool that takes continous snapshots of your screen every few seconds. By utilising AI, it analyses those images and stores it.
How does Microsoft Copilot+ Recall work?
With Recall taking snapshots of your screen and storing it, the AI enables a user to search for any content that was covered in a snapshot from images to text, by using natural language. It basically creates a timeline of explorable past actions on your PC.