Microsoft has finally launched the preview of its much-debated Recall AI feature, exclusively available to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel on Copilot Plus PCs.
This long-delayed tool aims to boost productivity by creating a detailed, AI-powered timeline of users’ digital activities. After multiple postponements due to security concerns, Microsoft is introducing Recall with a strong emphasis on user privacy and control.
What is recall?
The Recall AI feature captures snapshots of almost everything users do on their PCs, including apps, websites, and other activities, presenting them in an easily searchable timeline. With natural language queries, users can quickly locate past actions, whether by searching for text, images, or simply scrolling through their activity history. The feature’s AI capabilities allow it to identify specific details within these snapshots, offering an intuitive way to revisit past tasks.
To address privacy concerns, Recall is an entirely optional feature that users must opt into. Data is encrypted and stored locally, ensuring that Microsoft or third parties cannot access it. Sensitive information such as passwords and credit card details are automatically excluded from snapshots, and users have full control to delete saved data or exclude specific apps and websites.
Security Comes First
The launch of Recall has been a cautious process for Microsoft. Originally scheduled for June, the release was postponed to address privacy and security issues. In its current form, Recall requires Windows Hello authentication, along with BitLocker and Secure Boot, to ensure robust protection of user data.
Microsoft has made it clear that data collected through Recall will not be used to train AI models or shared externally. The company emphasises that users can uninstall the feature entirely if they decide it’s not for them.
Introducing Click to Do
Alongside Recall, Microsoft is rolling out another AI-powered tool called Click to Do. This feature enables users to interact directly with their snapshots, allowing them to copy text, save images, and perform other actions with ease. In future updates, Click to Do will extend its functionality to interact with online content like YouTube videos, enhancing visual search capabilities with Bing.
Click to Do also operates independently of Recall. By pressing the Windows key and left-clicking, users can bring up an interactive overlay on their screen to interact with text or images without relying on the Recall timeline.
Available Now for Copilot Plus PCs
Currently, the Recall preview is available only on Qualcomm-powered Copilot Plus PCs, but Microsoft plans to expand support to Intel and AMD systems in the near future. The rollout will be phased, allowing the company to gather user feedback and refine the feature before a broader release.
As Microsoft navigates the balance between innovation and user trust, Recall AI marks a bold step forward in integrating AI with everyday computing, though it will undoubtedly face ongoing scrutiny from privacy-conscious users.
