Windows keyboards to get a Copilot key – but how quickly will users jump?
- Reference: 1704376812
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/01/04/windows_keyboards_copilot/
- Source link:
Pressing the button will invoke the "Copilot Experience," according to [1]Microsoft . The addition of the Windows key some three decades ago was the last time the company fiddled with keyboard hardware. The addition of the Copilot key is, therefore, a sign of the company's determination – or desperation – to get users turned on to its AI tooling.
First, Copilot came for your [2]taskbar . Now it's coming for your keyboard.
[3]
As for where the key is going to be placed, it looks like the spot to the right of the spacebar will be the preferred location, although Microsoft noted that placement would vary by OEM. It might replace the right CTRL key unless the keyboard is large enough to accommodate both. In other cases, it might be combined with the Menu key – accessing the Menu functionality would require an Fn key or something similar.
[4]
[5]
If you're lucky enough to have dodged Copilot or it is unavailable or not enabled on your device, the new button will launch Windows Search. We asked Microsoft if users could select the search provider, but the company has yet to respond.
The new keyboards will start arriving in late February, and Microsoft said it would feature on upcoming Surface devices. The company also said that its hardware partners would show off products featuring the key in the coming days and the lead-up to CES.
[6]
After all, having a button to launch an AI assistant on a keyboard is bound to sway a buyer's purchasing decision.
Microsoft did not spell out the current travails faced by Copilot, preferring to note that the "timing of Copilot feature delivery and availability varies by market and device."
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[7]Windows boss takes on taskbar turmoil, pledges to 'make Start menu great again'
[8]Windows 11 unable to escape the shadow of Windows 10
[9]Microsoft nixed Mixed Reality: This Windows VR didn't even make it to the ER
[10]What the AI copyright fights are truly about: Human labor versus endless machines
Noting the decades since it last added a key to the Windows keyboard, Microsoft said: "We see this as another transformative moment in our journey with Windows where Copilot will be the entry point into the world of AI on the PC."
Transformative? Maybe. How quickly it's adopted could be seen a test of just how relevant Windows is nowadays. Microsoft may have been able to dictate the design of keyboards decades ago, but the sluggish adoption of Windows 11 indicates that users may be a little less bothered nowadays. ®
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[1] https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2024/01/04/introducing-a-new-copilot-key-to-kick-off-the-year-of-ai-powered-windows-pcs/
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/03/windows_11_start_great_again/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZZbkPMPRXf4mTLB9h6vBDAAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZZbkPMPRXf4mTLB9h6vBDAAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZZbkPMPRXf4mTLB9h6vBDAAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZZbkPMPRXf4mTLB9h6vBDAAAAJA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/03/windows_11_start_great_again/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/02/windows_11_unable_to_escape/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/27/windows_mixed_reality_is_dead/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/03/kettle_ai_copyright/
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
"Are the decision makers at Micros~1 really stupid enough to believe i am going to pay for a new keyboard just to have a new button to more comfortably start Copilot?"
No, but they believe as use of AI gets more commonplace, buyers of new computers are potentially going to be more inclined to favour a keyboard that provides instant access - and if that's part of the hardware it gives MS opportunity to link the key to CoPilot as the default, knowing that a large number of personal users will leave it at that, in the same way that they continue to use Edge as the default browser and the majority of iPhone users continue to use Google as their search engine.
We've already seen plenty of keyboards that had dedicated buttons for applications that the average user actually gives a shit about - "Internet", Email, Etc. But those buttons never got used. By anyone. Ever.
It's a dead-end idea from MS, and not even an original one at that.
One of my Logi ones has a "power" button that I frequently press. I now have paper wedged under them all to stop them from being pressed
Yup; when I still had a logi keyboard, I ended up doing that with the power/sleep button.
For various reasons, I'm using a different keyboard altogether now (a Keychron K8, which I'm much more pleased with.)
that is not a bad idea, i usually end up tearing the keys off
Old man. 3D print yourself a nice cap that goes over that stupid row of media, mail, internet, power and whatever keys.
Re: they believe as use of AI gets more commonplace ...
Another lawyer is in trouble for citing [1]AI hallucinated cases . ChatGPT is getting [2]even worse at diagnosis .
It is hard to tell if this copilot button idea was sourced from AI - Micros~1 have a long history of stunning ideas that predate modern LLMs. Perhaps they will next change the name to 'Autopilot' to cash in on the association with self driving cars.
[1] https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/01/michael-cohen-gave-his-lawyer-fake-citations-invented-by-google-bard-ai-tool/
[2] https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/01/dont-use-chatgpt-to-diagnose-your-kids-illness-study-finds-83-error-rate/
Or better still simply not bother. Why do I need a Co-pilot key that pops up some screen where I can type in a question and get shite back for an answer?
One could say there are already too many keys on a keyboard........
A program is a piece of software you wrote yourself. An application is a piece of software somebody else wrote and is asking you money for it.
BTW, what's the difference between directories and folders?
*This* is what counts as innovation at Microsoft?
Their afraid to touch the actual Windows code base in case they break WiFi or install printer nagware you don't need again.
It just deletes Firefox and Chrome, sets Edge as your default browser and then subscribes you to O365
Tsk tsk.... Edge is now AI browser (on mobile for now). Keep up at the back!
They haven't renames it Explorer then ?
It was innovation in the late 90s (left windows, right windows, menu key, multimedia buttons, Internet buttons), so the same magic must work now!
Let's be fair, Apple have been doing this for years. They have a sort of broken infinity and a +/- key, which I've never bothered to figure out what they hell it's supposed to be for.
At least they let you remap CAPSLOCK to Ctrl though, where it should be to avoid overstretching the left pinky finger.
You need to ask the question ?
How quickly will I jump ? I will jump as fast as I can - away from it.
Here's a thought, Nadella : how about you suggest to everyone to modify the standard Windows keyboard to include, for example, six new keys disposed vertically on the left-hand side of the keyboard - keys that are user-definable. And provide a program that allows the user to choose what sequence of keys, or what pre-determined function the user could assign to which one of those keys. You could then include "Launch CoPilot" as one of the possible options.
Wouldn't that be revolutionary ? Wouldn't that be empowering the user ? (hint: Logitech has already done it).
Oh, silly me. You don't want to empower the user. You just want to empower your bonuses.
I look forward to the day when such keyboards are regarded as historical curiosities.
hands off the Ctrl key
Leave the keyboards alone you retards.
If you insist on doing it, do it as an FN function above another key, so I can happily ignore it knowing I will never press the key combo
I wonder how long it will before the likes of Logi come out with a range with the copilot key realise it is not selling as everyone buys the no copilot version and drops it.
Please return PgUp, PgDn, Home, End first
Most laptops today lack dedicated PgUp, PgDn, Home, End keys - copying Apple, no doubt. ThinkPads are among the rare keyboards to still have these keys.
Before adding new keys, please return the standard keys!
Getting my coat with the missing keys in the pocket...
Re: Please return PgUp, PgDn, Home, End first
Don't let them fob you off.
Re: Please return PgUp, PgDn, Home, End first
There should be at least dedicated buttons for Volume Up, Volume Down, and Mute.
(instead of having to find and stretch out fingers between F'n and an F'Key to do so)
Anyone else notice?
All the grammatical errors in major online publications like cnn lately? Even top breaking headlines will be embarrassingly missing or doubling words. Wonder why THAT would be?
AI
Isn't it where this is going? They are going to train their models on your data using your resources and you will be paying for it.
Another idiotic key to avoid
Nice, another idiotic key to avoid. Useless and also probably hitting it by mistake will screw you while gaming, for example.
Re: Another idiotic key to avoid
Perhaps a missing right alt/ctrl key to fit this new key in will screw you more while gaming. Or speaking a language where right alt/ctrl have different key selection functions to left alt/ctrl.
Re: Another idiotic key to avoid
I was annoyed when keyboards introduced the Windows key, right in the way of the keys I used when playing Doom. Took some time to relearn the required muscle memory, but it definitely reduced my gaming speed. Don't think I've ever even used the Windows key in all the years since... Just pressed it now... it brings up the menu on Linux Mint. :-)
Great idea, but,,,
I want a cardboard keyboard overlay instead so I can relive the good old days.
Once again MS generating more unnecessary E-Waste…
Let’s hope sensible governments/political unions demand MS process all the E-waste this will generate.
Also give the “right to repair”, surely, this should be just a simple key cap replacement or even just a remap of one of the Fn keys.
Personally, given what MS have done to the W11 menus, I am a little surprised they haven’t simply made Co-Pilot the default initial behaviour of the Windows key; requiring users to use a second key press or mouse to gain access to the previously normal functionality…
Re: Once again MS generating more unnecessary E-Waste…
Ye Gods, you had to say it out loud!
Damn, I'll miss out on all that goodness
After having switched completely to Linux Mint Cinnamon last summer to get rid of all the MS spyware, 'updates' (ha ha ha) and other bollocks.
Ha! Another key
... that I can remap to something useful!
Right now
So it's appeared on my W11 laptop. We have it at work.
TBH it's as good as Bing search. Which is shit.
placement would vary by OEM - Oh do fuck off
just that really.
Most of my time dealing with ****ing phones these days is trying to find out where the cunts have hidden or moved the features to. (That is of course assuming they haven't simply removed it).
Case in hand was trying to find the slow charging setting on a Samsung. Even their support bod refused to believe it wasn't where they were telling me.
If i wanted to use something like Cortana or Copilot i'd be able to download and install a program or application (1) - no need to force that on me when i install the OS or an (security?) update to it.
If i want to look at the latest news as aggregated by Micros~1 i am perfectly able to start the browser of my choice and point it to msn news - no need for any app feed in my taskbar.
The worst offence is when they insist on preinstalled apps to show me the local weather - i can get way more current and accurate weather information by looking out the old fashined non computerized window.
Are the decision makers at Micros~1 really stupid enough to believe i am going to pay for a new keyboard just to have a new button to more comfortably start Copilot?
(1) Still haven't figured out the difference between a program and an application.