Microsoft is to add a Copilot key on future keyboards for Windows PCs, in first major keyboard change in 30 years.
Microsoft is to make the first major change in nearly 30 years to Windows PC keyboards, as it continues to push its artificial intelligence capabilities.
The last major change to Windows keyboard layouts was back in 1994, when Redmond and PC makers introduced the Windows key for viewing the Start menu.
The addition of the Copilot key will allow for easy access to begin text conversations with the software maker's virtual assistant.
Copilot in Windows of course utilises the artificial intelligence models from OpenAI, which operates its own popular ChatGPT chatbot.
It was back in March 2023 when Microsoft opted to exploit its heavy investment and close relationship with OpenAI, and added AI capabilities labelled 'Copilot' to its Office suite.
The development came after Microsoft had a month earlier bundled AI capabilities into both its Bing search engine and Edge browser.
It should be remembered that Microsoft has already started delivering Copilot on more modern PCs with Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Users can hold down the Windows key and push the C key to summon the Copilot.
Doing this on older Windows 10 machines will summon the defunct Cortana app.
Well a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC via email that in some cases, the Copilot key will replace the Menu key or the right Control key.
Some larger computers will have enough room for both the Copilot key and the right Control key, the spokesperson reportedly added.
This is not the only keyboard change Microsoft has sought since 1994.
In August 2017 Microsoft released a keyboard that brought the security of Windows Hello to any Windows 10 PC in the form of fingerprint reader.
However that $129.99 aluminium keyboard never saw widespread adoption.
This Cyber News was published on www.silicon.co.uk. Publication date: Thu, 04 Jan 2024 15:43:36 +0000