Windows 11 AI Actions Transform File Explorer Tasks

Microsoft is introducing an innovative feature called AI actions, bringing artificial intelligence capabilities directly into File Explorer for Windows 11 users. This new tool, currently available to those in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build, aims to streamline how you interact with your files by offering a range of AI-powered commands for various file types, including images, PDFs, and documents.

AI Actions in File Explorer What It Means for Users

The AI actions feature operates in a similar fashion to the Click to Do functionality recently unveiled for Copilot+ PCs. By right-clicking on supported files within File Explorer, users will find an AI actions entry in the context menu. Selecting this will reveal specific commands tailored to the selected file type.

For now, the primary focus is on image files, specifically JPG and PNG formats. Users can explore several handy commands:

Microsoft

Current AI Capabilities for Images

Windows Insiders can now test the following AI-powered image editing tools:

1. Bing Visual Search: This command initiates a web search based on the image. It helps gather more details about the file, discover visually similar images, and even identify landmarks or other objects within the picture.
2. Blur Background: Opening the image in the Photos app, this feature automatically detects and allows you to blur the background, making the subject stand out. You can adjust the blur intensity or use a brush tool for finer control over the blurred area.
3. Erase Objects: Also utilizing the Photos app, this tool enables you to select and remove unwanted elements from a photo using the Generative Erase feature.
4. Remove Background: This command launches Paint, where the background of an image can be removed, leaving a clean cutout of the subject. While the tool attempts automatic subject separation, a selection tool is available for manual adjustments if needed.

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Upcoming Enhancements for Microsoft 365 Files

Microsoft plans to expand AI actions in the coming weeks by adding two powerful commands for Microsoft 365 files:

1. Summarize: Copilot will assist in creating AI-generated summaries of files stored in OneDrive and SharePoint, eliminating the need to open them first. This will support a variety of file types, including Word (docx, doc), PowerPoint (pptx, ppt), Excel (xlsx, xls), Adobe PDF (PDF), plain text files (txt), rich text files (rtf), and Microsoft Loop files (loop).
2. Create an FAQ: This feature will transform your OneDrive files into question-and-answer lists suitable for sharing. It will support Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, text files, rich text files, as well as ASP files and web pages (htm, html).

Availability and Requirements

The image editing commands are accessible to all Windows Insiders. However, the upcoming Microsoft 365 file commands will have specific prerequisites:

• To use the Summarize option, you will need an active Microsoft 365 subscription that includes a Copilot subscription.
• To Create an FAQ, users must be commercial Microsoft 365 subscribers with a Copilot subscription. Microsoft has indicated that support for consumer Microsoft 365 accounts will be added later.

In other AI news, Microsoft recently upgraded Edge with new AI features.

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