The Notepad that knew too much: Humble text editor gets unnecessary AI infusion
(2025/09/18)
- Reference: 1758209985
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/09/18/got_a_copilot_pc_now/
- Source link:
Microsoft is continuing to shovel AI functionality into its Notepad application, with Windows Insiders the first test subjects.
The [1]latest update makes AI features like Summarize, Write, and Rewrite available on Copilot+ PCs without requiring a subscription.
Copilot+ PCs? Customers just aren't buying it – yet [2]READ MORE
Since the update, users with Copilot+ PCs will be able to dispense with the subscription requirement and choose to run local models rather than cloud-based ones.
Those with non-Copilot+ PCs that want a piece of the AI action, accessed via a right-click in Notepad, will need to subscribe.
Notepad was the simplest of text editors and has been a part of Windows for decades. In recent years, Microsoft has tinkered with the application, loading it with AI features that users did not demand but received anyway. Those features can be turned off in Notepad's settings.
[3]AI don't know: Enterprises slow to pick up on Copilot+ PCs
[4]Tested: Microsoft Recall can still capture credit cards and passwords, a treasure trove for crooks
[5]Microsoft's plain text editor gets fancy as Notepad gains formatting options
[6]If you're forced to use Windows 11, here's how to steal some of your time back
Away from Notepad, Microsoft has also added the ability to save project files to Paint and an opacity slider – again, overkill for something that started life as a bitmap botherer. It also added quick markup to the Snipping tool to allow users to make image edits before finalizing a screenshot.
Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs are solutions looking for a problem. It will become increasingly difficult to find hardware that isn't AI-enabled in the coming years, but having an essential application that requires AI hardware would certainly ease the transition.
[7]
However, enabling Notepad to perform AI tasks such as summarizing, rewriting, or writing text using local models rather than requiring a cloud subscription isn't it. ®
Get our [8]Tech Resources
[1] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/09/17/paint-snipping-tool-and-notepad-app-updates-begin-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/06/ai_copilot_pc_sales/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/28/copilot_pc_sales_grow_slowly/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/01/microsoft_recall_captures_credit_card_info/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/02/microsofts_plain_text_editor_notepad_gets_formatting/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/21/windows_11_productivity_sink/
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aMwslUKZSqlqcxxs6x-JBAAAAk0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[8] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
The [1]latest update makes AI features like Summarize, Write, and Rewrite available on Copilot+ PCs without requiring a subscription.
Copilot+ PCs? Customers just aren't buying it – yet [2]READ MORE
Since the update, users with Copilot+ PCs will be able to dispense with the subscription requirement and choose to run local models rather than cloud-based ones.
Those with non-Copilot+ PCs that want a piece of the AI action, accessed via a right-click in Notepad, will need to subscribe.
Notepad was the simplest of text editors and has been a part of Windows for decades. In recent years, Microsoft has tinkered with the application, loading it with AI features that users did not demand but received anyway. Those features can be turned off in Notepad's settings.
[3]AI don't know: Enterprises slow to pick up on Copilot+ PCs
[4]Tested: Microsoft Recall can still capture credit cards and passwords, a treasure trove for crooks
[5]Microsoft's plain text editor gets fancy as Notepad gains formatting options
[6]If you're forced to use Windows 11, here's how to steal some of your time back
Away from Notepad, Microsoft has also added the ability to save project files to Paint and an opacity slider – again, overkill for something that started life as a bitmap botherer. It also added quick markup to the Snipping tool to allow users to make image edits before finalizing a screenshot.
Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs are solutions looking for a problem. It will become increasingly difficult to find hardware that isn't AI-enabled in the coming years, but having an essential application that requires AI hardware would certainly ease the transition.
[7]
However, enabling Notepad to perform AI tasks such as summarizing, rewriting, or writing text using local models rather than requiring a cloud subscription isn't it. ®
Get our [8]Tech Resources
[1] https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2025/09/17/paint-snipping-tool-and-notepad-app-updates-begin-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/06/ai_copilot_pc_sales/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/28/copilot_pc_sales_grow_slowly/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/01/microsoft_recall_captures_credit_card_info/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/02/microsofts_plain_text_editor_notepad_gets_formatting/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/21/windows_11_productivity_sink/
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aMwslUKZSqlqcxxs6x-JBAAAAk0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[8] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Surprising
MiguelC
New features: IA in Notepad, opacity control in Paint and quick editing in the Snipping tool - one unwanted, one overkill and one actually useful.
A better ratio from M$ than the one we're used to. They'll do better (i.e. worst for users) next time.
So stupid.
Well, I switched to Textpad and then Notepad++ over 20 years ago, but are MS determined to make Windows totally unusable and drive everyone to Mac, Chromebooks and even Linux?