As expected, Microsoft is bringing the powerful and somewhat controversial AI-enabled Bing to Windows 11, and putting it right on your taskbar.
The update arrives today (February 28), but if you don’t already have access to AI Bing (you may still be on a waiting list), you won’t see it.
For those who have access to it and are running at least Windows 11 version 22H2 on one of the best Windows PCs, they will see the same OpenAI ChatGPT-enabled Bing chatbot that at least a million people have been using for nearly a month.
AI-enabled Bing is designed to be like a search engine co-pilot. You can use the new Bing in standard search mode, or in more conversational mode, where you ask the chatbot anything, even a series of questions that stay in context and, when all goes well, help you get better results. answers.
Now, that experience will live on in Windows 11’s popular and centered search box on the taskbar.
While Microsoft, in the blog post announcing the update, highlights some of the inspiring stories of discovering insights powered by AI-powered Bing, the decision to bring it to a platform used by millions of people is not without controversy.
Since its introduction in a surprise event a few weeks ago, users have pushed AI-enabled Bing to its limits. He was accused of making things up, cheating at Tic-Tac-Toe and going off the rails. Microsoft responded by putting safeguards on the new technology, such as limiting interactions to five responses at a time.
None of this, however, has slowed Microsoft’s expansion plans. Last week, Microsoft unveiled the AI-enabled mobile version of Bing that includes voice interaction.
Microsoft is somehow hedging its bets here by introducing AI-enabled Bing in Windows 11 and not the much more widely used Windows 10, which can be installed on over a billion devices.
Even so, this is a significant expansion of AI-enabled Bing availability, and the roadmap is clear. This ChatGPT-powered search will eventually be part of all Windows 11 installations, which means learning about it could grow at an exponential rate. It could also mean that Microsoft encounters even more unforeseen chatbot challenges.
Along with the AI-enabled Bing Taskbar update, Microsoft is finally bringing Phone Link to iOS devices.
For years, Microsoft has offered a direct Windows connection to top Samsung phones via Phone Link, enabling browser handoff and the ability to send texts and other notifications from the phone to the Windows screen.
This Windows 11 update finally adds support for iPhones, allowing Windows users to view messages and notifications from their iPhones on their Windows 11 PCs and sync contacts. You can even manage phone calls via your PC.
Unlike the Bing update, this one is still only available in preview for Windows Insiders, a beta program you can sign up for here (opens in a new tab). Remember that running unreleased software comes with its own set of risks, including data loss in the event of a system crash.
There are a bunch of other notable Windows 11 updates in today’s full public release, including:
• The ability to adjust Windows Studio effects directly from the taskbar in Quick Settings.
• A sliding taskbar when using Windows 11 in tablet mode. A swipe from the bottom of the screen will bring the taskbar back to the screen.
• The ability to open Quick Assist from the Help menu to receive and provide technical assistance. It will even let you switch between screen sharing mode and full remote control of your system or someone else’s (assuming you trust whoever you’re working with).
• Finally, Microsoft is adding screen recording to its snipping tool, which has traditionally been used to capture screen images. We’d love to see it add the ability to create GIFs from those screenshots, perhaps in a future Windows 11 update.
As we mentioned earlier, this major Windows 11 update is rolling out today (February 28) and while most updates are available for everyone, the AI-enabled Bing isn’t. will appear only if you are already part of the Bing preview program.
