Microsoft won’t deliver AI-powered recall of Copilot+ PCs next week

Microsoft is delaying the release of its Recall feature, which will not be available when the first Copilot+ PCs hit the market on June 18. The tech giant introduced Recall, an artificial intelligence (AI) feature that tracks and displays user history on the device using periodically captured snapshots, during last month’s Microsoft Surface and AI event. However, the feature has been criticized by online communities for security vulnerabilities and a lack of an opt-in system. Last week, the company announced several improvements to address the issues.

AI-powered recall postponed

Add one update In last week’s blog post about the improvements added to Recall, Microsoft said that instead of rolling out the feature to all Copilot+ PC owners right away, it will now first be previewed in the Windows Insider Program (WIP) over the next few weeks. After the public beta testing and feedback is processed, the feature will be released in preview mode to all Copilot+ PCs.

“We are adjusting the release model for Recall to leverage the expertise of the Windows Insider community and ensure the experience meets our high standards for quality and security. This decision is rooted in our commitment to providing a trusted, secure, and robust experience for all customers and to solicit additional feedback before rolling out the feature to all Copilot+ PC users,” Microsoft added.

Notably, the Windows maker addressed the criticism of the feature and made several changes to how the feature works. The AI-powered Recall has been made fully opt-in, with a screen that requires explicit user consent before it’s activated. The feature has also been integrated with the Windows Hello security feature, which requires biometric authentication or a separate PIN. Additionally, the tech giant said that the device will require “proof of presence” to view the timeline and search within Recall.

Furthermore, a second layer of encryption is being added to the feature’s search index database to protect it from malicious actors. However, it appears that Microsoft wants to take more time to test the feature within the WIP community before releasing it worldwide. According to a report According to The Verge, the Recall feature was developed in secret and wasn’t tested publicly before the announcement was made at the Surface event. The company is likely righting its wrongs with this move.