Microsoft's notepad now writes for you with AI capabilities

In the United States, starting in late 2021, significant updates for Windows' Notepad text editor were infrequent, with only a gentle redesign and minor enhancements being considered notable changes. However, by 2025, Microsoft shifted its focus toward integrating more generative AI features into various applications, including Notepad. In November 2021, Microsoft launched testing for an update that allowed users to rewrite and summarize text using generative AI. Following that, more features were developed, leading to the creation of 'Write,' enabling direct AI-generated text creation. These updates required users to be signed into a Microsoft Account to utilize AI credits, making the features available only to subscribers. Aside from Notepad, Microsoft also announced AI enhancements for other essential Windows applications like Paint and Snipping Tool. With Paint, new features such as a 'sticker generator' and AI-powered tools aimed at editing images were introduced. A new welcome screen was added to showcase these enhancements when users first launched the app. The Snipping Tool received two significant updates, including a color picker for identifying color values in screenshots and a 'perfect screenshot' feature designed to automatically crop app windows without needing manual adjustments. This feature relies on local processing, which requires specific new hardware to function effectively. All of these updates were initially rolled out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels, focusing on delivering the latest features to users who were open to testing less stable builds of the operating system. Although not all features are guaranteed to reach the general public, users can anticipate some of these AI-driven tools being made available in the forthcoming weeks or months. The infusion of generative AI into traditional software applications marks a shift in how Microsoft approaches its core applications, reflecting a broader trend in the tech industry towards AI-based solutions that aid productivity and creativity. As these developments unfold, Microsoft has ensured that users can disable AI features in their settings if preferred, and specified that these functionalities would not be accessible to those using local accounts instead of Microsoft Accounts. The embrace of AI technologies in platforms like Notepad symbolizes the growing importance and application of artificial intelligence across everyday tools, transforming user experiences and pushing boundaries on what such software can achieve in terms of usability, efficiency, and creative potential.