Microsoft has announced yet another delay in the rollout of its controversial Recall feature for Copilot Plus PCs. Originally set to begin testing with Windows Insiders in October, the company has decided to take additional time to refine the feature before making it available. The new target for the feature’s preview is now December.
Recall was initially slated to debut alongside Copilot Plus PCs in June but faced delays due to raised security concerns. Following the initial postponement, Microsoft aimed for an October release, but those plans have now shifted to December. The multiple delays are tied to significant security overhauls of the Recall feature, ensuring it will be an opt-in experience with the option to fully uninstall it if users choose.
The Recall feature is designed to leverage local AI models built into Windows 11, allowing users to take screenshots of nearly everything they see or do on their computers. This functionality will enable users to search and retrieve past activities, providing a timeline that allows them to scroll through snapshots and revisit actions from specific days. For instance, users can effortlessly look back at documents they’ve viewed or tasks they’ve completed, enhancing productivity and information retrieval.
To address security concerns, Microsoft is focusing on encrypting the Recall database, with access only granted through Windows Hello authentication. Earlier this week, Microsoft reiterated that Recall will not be mandatory for users and that it will remain an opt-in feature. This clarification comes in response to misinformation circulating on platforms like YouTube, which suggested that Recall was automatically being installed on all PCs running Windows 11, version 24H2.
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