Microsoft postpones recall again to December
October has passed, Microsoft's local AI search for PCs not yet available – because it has been quietly postponed.
The first demo of Recall by Microsoft: Image content is also found via text prompt.
(Image: Microsoft)
In October 2024, Microsoft wanted to offer its AI search function "Recall" for Copilot+ PCs as an update for Windows 11 , which had already been postponed several times. However, this has not happened, and the company has yet to comment on the matter. Now it's clear why: Microsoft needs more time to finalize a "safe and trustworthy experience" with Recall.
This was stated by Windows product manager Brandon LeBlanc when asked by The Verge. The new function, which was already announced in June 2024, is now scheduled to be available in December 2024. However, this will still only apply to new PCs with Copilot+, and only if their users have joined the Windows Insider Program. In short: Recall is no longer expected to be widely rolled out this year. This means that the Copilot+ PCs, which were advertised at great expense, still do not have the range of functions that were promised for them around six months later.
Recall has been under revision since September
LeBlanc did not comment further on the reasons for the recent postponement. It therefore remains unclear whether Recall is suffering from technical or legal problems, or both. Microsoft had already announced a comprehensive overhaul of the function at the end of September 2024, which is now to be offered as an opt-in and offer users more control. In addition, it should no longer save freely accessible JPEG screenshots, but encrypted ones instead. All the promised changes can be found in an earlier announcement.
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There is also no new information on the planned range of functions of Recall. In the first version, the system saved a screenshot of the screen content every few seconds. These screenshots were then indexed locally on the computer using AI so that previous activities could be retrieved with simple queries. Among other things, this was useful for finding a visited website or document on the PC with just a few clicks. Due to numerous concerns regarding data protection, privacy and employment law, Recall was heavily criticized from the outset.
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