This Windows 11 update may actually make Copilot useful

Copilot for Windows could see a wave of new capabilities thanks to Power Automate Desktop and an update.

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What you need to know

Copilot for Windows is about to become much more capable. Microsoft is working on quite a few new features for the AI tool and how those new options work could pave the way for Copilot to become much more useful for everyday users.

Microsoft rolled out Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26058 to the Canary Channel last week. Since then, the company has updated its blog post about the build to include several new Copilot capabilities in testing. The new features come courtesy of Power Automate Desktop working through Copilot plus some general Windows settings now working with Copilot.

Power Automate Desktopis a tool from Microsoft that can be used to automate repetitive tasks. It’s a powerful tool that can record steps and create flows to simplify tasks you do frequently. It works with both Microsoft-made apps, third-party services, and the web, so playing nice with Copilot could lead to major advancements of the AI tool.

The first wave of new capabilities includes tasks such as emptying the recycle bin, turning on live captions, or toggling Bluetooth on or off. Here’s what you can now do with Copilot if you’re running the latest Canary build of Windows 11, asshared by Microsoft:

Copilot on Windows 11

Copilot is still in its infancy, so it’s understandable that it’s quite limited. But withGoogle Gemini being able to perform Google Assistant commands, I can’t help but look across the platform aisle and be jealous of more capable tools.

When Microsoft first launched Copilot on Windows 11 the tool was basically just a shortcut to Bing Chat (which has since beenrebranded to Copilot). The tool had a few integrations with Windows 11, such as being able to adjust the volume of your computer or take a screenshot.

Things have improved over time for Copilot, which is to be expected with such a new product. We now have a guide on “12 things Microsoft Copilot can do on Windows 11 that you REALLY should know about.” We’ll have to update that piece once Copilot’s new capabilities make their way through testing and become generally available.

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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.