Microsoft Enhances Notepad and Paint with Advanced AI Features
Microsoft has introduced significant advancements to its Notepad and Paint applications as part of the latest rollout for Windows 11 Insiders. These updates are now available to users in the Canary and Dev Channels who have updated to the latest app versions.
New AI Features in Notepad
Notepad’s latest version, 11.2512.10.0, incorporates AI-driven functionalities such as Write, Rewrite, and Summarize. This enhancement allows users to receive AI-generated previews more quickly, streamlining their writing processes. To access these features, users are required to sign in with their Microsoft accounts.
According to Dave Grochocki, Principal Group Product Manager for Windows Inbox Apps, “Results for Write, Rewrite, and Summarize will appear sooner. This brings engaging previews without waiting for complete responses.”
Enhanced Markdown Support
- Notepad now includes expanded Markdown syntax support.
- Users can create nested lists and apply strikethrough formatting using keyboard shortcuts or the formatting toolbar.
Additionally, Notepad has introduced a welcome screen to guide users through its new features. This screen appears upon the first launch and can be revisited via a megaphone icon in the toolbar.
Innovative Features in Paint
The Paint application has also seen notable upgrades with version 11.2512.191.0. A standout addition is the Coloring Book feature, which utilizes AI to generate coloring pages based on user-defined text prompts. This feature provides multiple options that users can integrate into their canvas, copy, or save.
It is important to note that this feature is available only on Copilot+ PCs and requires users to log in with their Microsoft accounts.
Fill Tool Enhancements
Another improvement in Paint is the newly added fill tolerance slider. This tool allows users to adjust how the Fill function applies color to the canvas, enabling them to explore various tolerance levels for different artistic effects. The slider is located on the left side of the canvas when the Fill tool is in use.
User Feedback and Additional Updates
Microsoft encourages users to provide feedback on these updates through the Windows Feedback Hub, specifically under the Apps category, to help identify and resolve any issues.
In September, Microsoft unveiled that AI features, including text summarization and rewriting, would be accessible for free to customers with Copilot+ PCs. Users who prefer not to utilize these new functionalities can easily disable them in the settings or revert to the previous notepad.exe version.
Moreover, Paint previously introduced support for Photoshop-like project files and added an opacity slider for its Pencil and Brush tools for users who upgraded to version 11.2508.361.0.
