Windows’ AI Recall Feature Will Miss the Copilot+ PC Launch

Microsoft said it will delay the AI-driven Recall feature on Copilot+ PCs to make sure it meets “high standards” for quality and security.

The enhanced system search was originally supposed to launch as a widely accessible preview feature when Copilot+ systems arrived on June 18th. Now, however, it will initially be limited to a Windows Insider preview arriving in the “coming weeks.”

The delay came after users and researchers warned of potential privacy and security risks with Recall, which snaps images of your activity every five seconds and scans it to help remember content. As the data was available in plain text, an intruder who compromised your PC could theoretically use Recall’s snapshots to steal sensitive information.

Microsoft promised tightened security practices in response. Windows will now only decrypt Recall snapshots once you’ve authenticated with Windows Hello, and will demand that you be physically present to search your PC’s timeline. There’s also a more explicit opt-in, and the search index database will be encrypted as well.

The Recall delay partly dampens the imminent Copilot+ PC launch, which includes Surface models from Microsoft as well as third parties like Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung. While the Snapdragon X-based laptops will still have upgraded AI capabilities along with stronger battery life, one of their centerpiece features won’t be available for most users for a while.

Copilot+ theoretically gives Microsoft an advantage over Apple and Google in the near future. Apple is only just dipping into advanced AI with its Apple Intelligence beta this fall, while Google is in the early stages of making Gemini easily accessible on Chromebooks. With the Recall setback, however, Microsoft can’t boast as much of an edge.