Introducing the Future of Computing: Windows Unveils New Copilot Key on PC Keyboards This Month

Microsoft's latest innovation heralds a pivotal shift in Windows PCs – the unveiling of the Co-pilot key, a ground-breaking feature poised to enrich user interaction through artificial intelligence. This development signifies the most notable advancement in PC keyboards since the introduction of the Windows key in 1994, which was brought in for easy access to the Start menu.

The Co-pilot key in Windows harnesses advanced artificial intelligence models from OpenAI, a start-up backed by Microsoft and famous for its ChatGPT chatbot. This feature enables the Co-pilot to produce text responses that mimic human conversation based on simple written prompts. Its capabilities range from composing emails and answering questions to generating visual content and activating PC functionalities. For corporate users of Microsoft 365, Co-pilot also offers enhanced features, such as summarising Teams chats and aiding in the creation of Word documents.

Now available on PCs operating with Windows 10 and Windows 11 – the world’s most widely used operating systems – the Co-pilot is easily accessible. Users can activate it by pressing the Windows key alongside the 'C' key.

The introduction of a dedicated Co-pilot key marks more than an upgrade; it signals the advent of a new era of AI-integrated PCs. This innovation is aimed not only at enriching the user experience but also at stimulating a fresh wave of PC upgrades, potentially leading to a revenue increase for Microsoft's Windows division, which constitutes about 10% of its total revenue.

The tech industry has embraced the concept of the AI PC, often entailing the incorporation of specialised chip components that run AI models more efficiently than standard silicon. This advancement is poised to redefine the PC landscape in 2024, already labelled 'the year of the AI PC' by Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's head of Windows and Surface.

In the build-up to the CES conference in Las Vegas, various device makers are set to display PCs featuring the Co-pilot key, with the roll-out expected to begin later in the month. This includes forthcoming models of the Microsoft Surface PCs. Depending on the model's size and design, the Co-pilot key will either replace the Menu key or the right Control key, as confirmed by a Microsoft spokesperson.