Microsoft has launched the first preview of its highly anticipated Recall AI feature for Copilot Plus PCs, available to Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel.
After a series of delays, this Windows 11 update also introduces Click to Do, a feature reminiscent of Google’s Circle to Search.
The Recall feature takes AI-powered screenshots of your activities, creating a searchable timeline that makes retracing your steps effortless. By enabling the snapshots, users can leverage natural language queries to revisit apps, documents, or websites they’ve worked on. A scrollable timeline allows you to pinpoint specific dates and locate past interactions, with AI-matching text and visual elements for precise search results.
While the feature is optional and requires user opt-in, Microsoft has focused on user privacy. Snapshots remain stored locally, never sent to the cloud, and are not used for AI training. Sensitive data, like passwords or credit card details, is automatically excluded, and users can control or delete saved snapshots. The Recall feature is supported by Windows Hello, BitLocker, and Secure Boot to ensure top-notch security.
In tandem with Recall, Click to Do enables users to perform actions on snapshot content, such as copying text or saving images. Future updates aim to expand its capabilities, allowing users to interact with videos and perform visual searches on elements within them. Initially limited to Qualcomm-powered PCs, broader compatibility with Intel and AMD Copilot Plus PCs is expected soon.
The release of Recall AI marks a significant step in Microsoft’s AI-driven vision for Windows, though its journey to launch wasn’t without challenges. Originally planned for a June debut, the feature faced delays over security concerns, leading Microsoft to redesign its privacy framework and make Recall an opt-in experience. With this preview release, security researchers and Windows Insiders will have the opportunity to scrutinize Recall AI ahead of a wider rollout.
