Microsoft Adds First New Key For Windows Keyboard In 30 Years

For the first time in 30 years, Microsoft has introduced its most significant update to the Windows keyboard – a new AI-powered feature called “Copilot key” for laptops and PCs that run on Windows 11. This change is in line with the company’s vision for “the year of the AI PC.”

Microsoft Adds First New Key For Windows Keyboard In 30 Years

For those unaware, Copilot is an AI-powered chatbot powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology that was launched in February 2023. It is based on the large language models (LLMs) with data in the Microsoft Graph and Microsoft 365 apps.

In a blog post on Thursday, Microsoft’s Executive Vice President (EVP) and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Yusuf Mehdi announced that the company will begin implementing a new Copilot key in Windows 11 PCs in 2024.

Mehdi says that this change intends to bring a significant shift toward a more personal and intelligent computing future where AI (artificial intelligence) will be seamlessly merged into Windows from the system to the silicon to the hardware. The new key will ultimately make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day-to-day, adds Mehdi.

“Nearly 30 years ago, we introduced the Windows key to the PC keyboard that enabled people all over the world to interact with Windows,” Mehdi wrote. “We see this as another transformative moment in our journey with Windows where Copilot will be the entry point into the world of AI on the PC.”

The new Copilot key will be placed next to the ALT key on the right side of the keyboard, nestled between the Alt key and the left arrow key, allowing users to access AI features easily. However, the placement of the key may vary depending on the OEM and different markets.

Upon pressing the key, it will launch the built-in Windows Copilot in Windows 11, featuring a ChatGPT-like chatbot that can help users get responses to their queries, create documents, emails, and presentations, add content to existing documents, summarise texts, and much more.

Over the coming days leading up to and at the upcoming (Jan 9 – 12) CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Microsoft is expected to showcase the Copilot key on many of the new Windows 11 PCs from its ecosystem partners. However, the laptops will be later this month through Spring, including on upcoming Surface devices.