- Microsoft has a new Windows AI Labs program
- The goal is to speed up the development of AI features for Windows 11
- Originally this is just for the paint app but other apps will be included in time
Microsoft has fired up a new scheme for testing AI features in Windows 11, starting with the paint app.
Windows latest reports receiving an invitation to the new ‘Windows AI Labs’, which is a program for Beta-Testing Incoming AI features (separately to existing preview builts of Windows 11 implemented via four different channels).
The offer to participate in the scheme was presented to the technical site when opening Microsoft Paint, and although it is originally only for that app, it will be introduced to other applications in the future.
The Verge confirmed the new program and received a statement from Mike Harsh, partner director for product management at Microsoft. Harsh explained: “Windows AI laboratory is a pilot acceleration program for validating new AI feature ideas in Windows. The program focuses on quick customer feedback on functional ability, customer interest and marketing.”
The opportunity to participate is offered only a small number of testers right now, apparently, with the scope undoubtedly to be expanded at a later date. Windows latest explains that the enrollment process is not even working and rolling out the offer that is happening now, seems to be a mistake.
Still, this is clearly coming soon enough considering Microsoft’s confirmation of the move.
Analysis: More AI for Windows 11
One thing this tells us is that there will soon be new AI features coming to paint, an app that has already seen a few of these arrives (they may well be exclusive to Copilot+ PCS as well). The idea seems to be for Microsoft to get these skills tested faster so that it can make decisions about whether to continue with them in a more timely way or not.
Of course, it comes with the usual warnings associated with any beta test. The new AI features can be wonky somehow and you may want to find them going wrong (maybe even bad, considering that this effort is focused on ‘fast’ getting things out there for feedback). Features can also end up being scrapped, so far from everything in testing makes the clip to the final version of a given app.
Microsoft is obviously eager to push AI features as part of the drive to sell Copilot+ PCs, at the moment with emphasis on grabbing attention to those who leave Windows 10 when it hits the end of life soon enough. So it’s not surprising to see the company that wants to speed up the development of these capabilities.
However, some Windows 11 users are frustrated that Microsoft is adding AI pruning when these people just want existing functionality (cough: File Explorer -Payment), or actually the addressing of basic settings still missing (such as moving the taskbar away from the bottom of the screen).
