Microsoft announces new Copilot Voice, Vision, and agentic experiences for all Windows 11 PCs

Meet the Computer You Can Talk To

Microsoft has announced a major update to Windows 11 that aims to make every PC an AI PC. The update, led by Yusuf Mehdi, Executive Vice President and Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft, introduces Copilot Voice, Copilot Vision, and Copilot Actions—three new AI-driven experiences designed to make interactions with Windows more natural, contextual, and secure. The rollout will begin through Windows updates and previews for Windows Insiders and Copilot Labs, with the goal of integrating these tools into everyday workflows.

Copilot Voice and Vision
At the center of the new update is Copilot Voice, allowing users to interact with their PC through speech using a new wake phrase, “Hey Copilot.” This opt-in feature gives users hands-free access to Copilot by simply speaking to their system, mirroring how voice assistants operate on mobile devices. Users can end conversations with “Goodbye” or simply wait for Copilot to close the session automatically after inactivity.

Complementing Voice is Copilot Vision, now available globally across all markets where Copilot is offered. Copilot Vision enables the AI to “see” what’s on a user’s screen and provide guidance, insights, or contextual assistance within apps. For instance, Vision can highlight steps within Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, or analyze a full presentation for feedback without needing users to flip through slides. The feature supports both voice and text modes, giving users flexibility in how they interact with AI support.

New agentic and taskbar experiences
Microsoft is also previewing Copilot Actions—a general-purpose AI agent capable of performing real-world tasks on local files in Windows. This includes actions like sorting photos, extracting data from PDFs, or automating desktop tasks. The feature uses a secure agent workspace, ensuring that user data and permissions remain protected while the AI operates independently in the background.

A redesigned taskbar now introduces Ask Copilot, a faster and more integrated way to access Copilot tools directly. The new layout offers instant search results for apps, files, and settings while integrating Vision and Voice within a single click. These experiences aim to make Copilot feel like a built-in collaborator rather than a standalone assistant.

New tools and integrations
The update also brings Copilot connectors—integrations that link Microsoft and Google services such as OneDrive, Outlook, Gmail, and Google Drive to Copilot. This enables users to search across emails, documents, and calendar entries in plain language. For instance, Copilot can find a document from a specific class or recall a contact’s email address instantly.

Microsoft is also testing new AI-powered workflows through Manus, an AI agent in File Explorer that can build a complete website using local files, and a new Filmora editing action for quick video edits.

Security and availability
Microsoft reiterated its commitment to security as part of its Secure Future Initiative. Copilot Actions will be disabled by default, requiring user consent before activation. Users can monitor every AI task and revoke access at any time.

These features will begin rolling out through Windows updates and to Windows Insiders in Copilot Labs, with broader availability expected later. Microsoft plans to share more about these agentic AI experiences at Microsoft Ignite 2025 in November.