UPDATE: Microsoft has just announced its latest AI innovation, Click To Do, designed to enhance user experience on Copilot+ PCs. This groundbreaking feature allows users to perform contextual AI actions quickly, marking a significant shift from the previously criticized Windows Recall functionality.
Activating Click To Do is simple: users need to hold down the Windows key and click once with the left mouse button, or press Windows key + Q for a keyboard shortcut. This feature, however, is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, meaning if nothing happens, your device may not support it.
Once activated, Click To Do overlays an outline around your screen, highlighting all text and images, making them selectable for immediate action. With ongoing updates, Microsoft continues to enhance the available actions within Click To Do, making it an essential tool for productivity.
Originally part of Windows Recall, Click To Do has evolved into a standalone feature after Microsoft pivoted its approach. Notably, it operates with enhanced privacy: users must actively choose to use it, contrasting sharply with the background operations of Recall.
When activated, Click To Do utilizes optical character recognition (OCR) technology to scan the screen, enabling users to interact seamlessly with elements. For instance, selecting an email address prompts the option to “Send email,” while clicking on a website URL allows users to “Open website” in their default browser.
Crucially, the feature leverages advanced processing through the PC’s neural processing unit (NPU) for tasks like summarizing text or creating lists, while some actions—such as web searches—do transmit data to Microsoft’s servers. However, no data is shared unless users opt for these specific functions.
As Microsoft continues to develop Click To Do, it is expanding its capabilities. Users can now send selected text to Microsoft’s Copilot AI chatbot or initiate document drafting in Word. This versatility enhances the feature’s appeal, aligning with the growing demand for AI integration in everyday tasks.
Click To Do also includes powerful image manipulation options, allowing users to perform actions such as “Blur background with Photos” or “Erase objects with Photos.” These features consolidate various image editing tools into a single interface, streamlining user interaction.
For those who find the feature intrusive, it can easily be disabled via Settings > Privacy & security > Click to Do. However, users should note this feature is enabled by default on Copilot+ PCs.
Looking ahead, Microsoft plans further enhancements for Click To Do, including an integrated Copilot prompt box for direct interaction with selected content. Future updates will also allow users to select mixed content types and even detect tables for quick export to Microsoft Excel.
This rapid evolution signifies Microsoft’s commitment to optimizing user experience and accessibility of AI features within Windows. With Click To Do, the tech giant is positioning itself as a leader in AI integration, aiming for a future where AI can be accessed with a single click across the Windows ecosystem.
As the technology landscape shifts, the success of Click To Do will depend on user adoption and feedback. Microsoft’s strategic move away from Recall towards Click To Do reflects a significant development in the integration of AI into personal computing, promising to enhance productivity and user engagement in the digital age.
Stay tuned for further updates as Microsoft continues to roll out new features and improvements for Click To Do, making it a potentially transformative tool for Windows users.
