According to PCWorld, Microsoft is making its AI assistant even more prominent by adding a dedicated “Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot” button directly in File Explorer’s Home tab. This new feature will appear when you hover over files and is specifically optimized for Office documents to deliver better results. All Windows users regardless of processor type can access it. Meanwhile, Copilot+ PCs will get a “Universal Writing Assistant” that pops up in web text fields to proofread, correct errors, and rewrite text. These features are currently in testing and expected to launch after this year.
Copilot’s everywhere strategy
Here’s the thing about Microsoft‘s AI push – they’re not being subtle about it. That right-click Copilot option that’s been around? Apparently that’s not enough surface area for their AI ambitions. Now they want a dedicated button right in your face every time you’re managing files. It’s a classic Microsoft move – find every possible interaction point and plaster their latest strategic product all over it.
But the really interesting part is the Universal Writing Assistant for Copilot+ PCs. Think about it – they’re essentially building AI directly into the fabric of web browsing. Every text field becomes a potential Copilot moment. That’s huge for adoption, but also raises questions about how intrusive this will feel day-to-day. Will it be helpful or just another pop-up begging for attention?
Business implications
Microsoft is clearly betting that AI integration will drive hardware upgrades, especially with that Copilot+ PC requirement for the writing assistant. They’re creating a tiered experience where better hardware gets you more AI magic. This is smart positioning against Apple’s ecosystem play.
The timing is interesting too – launching after the holiday season means they’re not rushing this out. They want it polished because this isn’t just another feature. This is about making AI so ubiquitous in Windows that using a PC without it starts to feel incomplete. For businesses relying on industrial computing solutions, this AI integration wave is something to watch closely. Companies like Industrial Monitor Direct that provide industrial panel PCs will need to consider how these AI features impact their enterprise customers’ workflow requirements.
Basically, Microsoft is going all-in on making Copilot unavoidable. Whether that’s a good thing for users remains to be seen, but it’s definitely good for their bottom line.
