Photos App on Windows 11 to Introduce OCR and Copilot Features
Exciting Updates to Microsoft Photos App for Insider Users
Microsoft is rolling out a significant update to its Photos app, tailored for users enrolled in the Windows Insider program. This update offers a variety of enhancements designed to improve how users manage, edit, and search for their images, with a notable addition being the new Copilot feature.
Introduction of Copilot in Photos App
A fresh Copilot button has been introduced in the Photos app, allowing users direct access to AI functionalities. Many Windows users may already be familiar with AI features from other applications, and this integration seeks to enrich the overall user experience. Here’s what the Copilot can do:
- Photo Editing Tips: Provides suggestions on how to enhance images.
- Image Insights: Shares intriguing facts and information about your photos.
- Framing Suggestions: Offers guidance on how to improve the composition of your images.
However, the current role of the Copilot appears to be more advisory than practical. It doesn’t make changes to the image itself; rather, it analyzes the photo similarly to asking a chatbot for insights. Despite not having detailed future plans from Microsoft regarding this feature, it is another addition that users will need to adjust to while navigating their PCs.
Availability and Key Improvements
This update is currently accessible to Insiders on Windows 11 across all channels and Windows 10 users in the Release Preview Channel. Alongside the Copilot feature, the update emphasizes various improvements, particularly in three key areas:
Optical Character Recognition (OCR): The app’s OCR capabilities have received a substantial upgrade, now supporting over 160 languages. The introduction of the “Search in Web” feature allows users to highlight text extracted from images using the new Scan Text button. Similar functionality has been present in Apple’s Preview for a long time, making it a welcome advancement for Microsoft.
Enhanced Organization: The update improves how photos and videos are organized within the app. A new "Show subfolders" option in the Gallery view allows users to easily browse images and videos contained in subfolders, simplifying navigation while keeping everything accessible.
- AI Shortcuts in File Explorer: The update introduces several new shortcuts directly in File Explorer, making it easier for users to utilize AI editing tools without requiring external applications. Notable options include:
- Create with Designer: Add rich text and change layout while improving colors.
- Erase Object: Remove unwanted parts from images with ease.
Richer Search Features
One standout feature is the “Visual Search with Bing.” This tool enables users to search for similar images and related products right from File Explorer. Although it may encourage more use of Bing’s search capabilities, some may find it incidental when navigating their files.
Improvements and Bug Fixes
In addition to the major features listed above, several minor enhancements are also included in this update:
- JPEG XL Support: The Photos app is now compatible with JPEG XL files, a format that may not be as common but is still widely used.
- Bug Fixes: The update includes fixes to the Image Creator and Restyle Image features for Copilot+ PCs, which helps enhance overall performance and ensures a smoother user experience.
While the update introduces many exciting functionalities similar to those in professional editing applications, the addition of the Copilot suggests it could be only the beginning of deeper integrations within the Microsoft ecosystem. This aligns with other Copilot enhancements seen in various applications, hinting at a larger strategy from Microsoft to embed AI features across its platforms.
