Windows Insiders can test hotword "Hey Copilot!" test

Microsoft has enabled a new feature for Copilot voice control for Insiders, allowing Windows 11 users to interact with the AI by voice without having to press a button. All they have to do is say “Hey Copilot!”. Microsoft had already mentioned the function at the beginning of May during the presentation of new Surface devices and the announcement of the “next wave of Windows experiences”.

Users must activate “Hey Copilot!”

Similar voice commands to activate a voice assistant have been around for years with Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa. Microsoft also had such an activation word for its now discontinued Cortana assistant.

The new hotword is an addition to the Copilot app. Until now, the Windows assistant had to be started with the special Copilot key, which is integrated in current notebooks, or a key combination.

As Microsoft writes in the announcement about the new Copilot function, users must activate the hotword so that the assistant can respond to the “wake word”. The manufacturer also points out that the new function is not yet available for testing by all insiders. It will initially be rolled out to testers worldwide who have set English as the system language. To check whether you can try out the function, the Copilot app must be version 1.25051.10.0 or newer.

After saying “Hey Copilot”, the Copilot makes itself known by a floating microphone at the bottom of the screen. In addition, either a gong or a voice announcement can be heard.

A conversation with Copilot can be ended by clicking on the “X” on the floating overlay. The assistant also switches off if you wait a few seconds without speaking. According to Microsoft, Copilot acknowledges the end of the call with a beep or a voice confirmation.

Copilot always listens – On-Device

Microsoft points out that no data or recordings are sent to the cloud when the “Hey Copilot” function is activated. Similar to other manufacturers, Copilot has an internal “wake word spotter” that only responds to the “Hey Copilot” command. The “wake word spotter” relies on a 10-second audio buffer that is “never recorded or stored locally”. However, an internet connection is required for questions and commands asked to Copilot.

In addition, the computer must be switched on and unlocked to use “Hey Copilot”. This means that the voice assistant cannot be used to wake the computer from standby using voice commands.

Finally, Microsoft has provided Copilot with “eyes”: Dubbed “Copilot Vision”, the function can recognize content in apps, among other things, and can also deal with two shared apps at the same time. This allows the AI assistant to help with analysis, provide insights and answer questions across both apps.

(afl)