Microsoft will soon be bringing its Copilot chatbot to Windows 10. Months after announcing the end of major updates for Windows 10, the software giant unexpectedly released the Operation Copilot user guide for Windows 10 for preview build testers of the system.
“This is a huge opportunity for us to bring the value of Copilot to even more customers,” Aaron Woodman, vice president of marketing at Windows, said in a press release.
Microsoft wants to boost its AI ambitions by tapping into the millions of computers running Windows 10 and giving them access to features like Copilot, although Windows 10 support is still less than two years away from its ultimate goal.
Copilot in Windows 10 works similarly to Windows 11, with a button on the right side of the taskbar that gives you quick access to the chatbot.
Users can remove this button and the Copilot feature in Windows 10 will no longer look like Windows 11, especially when it comes to controlling Windows features and settings.
“There are some functional differences where some skills can run in Windows 11 but not in Windows 10. So, these skills will not be present in Copilot for Windows 10,” Woodman said.
Windows 10 has lower hardware requirements than Windows 11, and Microsoft estimates that 4GB of RAM and a 720p screen resolution is sufficient for the Copilot chatbot.
The company is testing Copilot on Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro users and plans to launch Copilot on Windows 10 Business editions soon.
Microsoft said in a support note that it is rethinking its approach to Windows 10 and is making additional investments to ensure all users get the most out of Windows PCs like Copilot.
This could mean more AI features in Windows 10, such as new AI features in Windows 11's Paint program.
Woodman insisted that this is the final version of Windows 10, with support until October 14, 2025, and that the company will not make any changes to the system's end-of-support date.
A recent report found that Windows 11 reached 400 million devices just two years after its release, while Windows 10 reached the same mark with 600 million devices a year after its release and a few months after its second anniversary.
Microsoft is now expected to release a new version of its Windows operating system in 2024.
Intel had previously touted the 2024 Windows Update in hopes it would boost sales, and Intel's teaser comes just months after Intel's internal documents mentioned a Windows 12 release.