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Subscribe to the world's #1 PC gaming mag Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From£35.99Subscribe now Essential Hardware Dune: Awakening PC Gaming Show Recommended reading Latest beta version of Windows 11 gets the AI agent that Microsoft promised it would add: A search tool that works Microsoft Recall finally launches for AI PC users, along with some other new features, almost one year after Copilot+ was announced Operating Systems Microsoft unleashes an AI agent on your unsuspecting Windows settings, but initially only if you have a Snapdragon X-powered PC Windows Recall gets an export feature to let non-Microsoft websites and apps use your Copilot PC's snapshots Gaming Industry 'AI is no longer optional': Microsoft is allegedly pressuring employees to use AI tools through manager evaluations A software engineer taught AI to hunt bugs by interfacing an LLM with debugging tools and has released the open source code: 'It's like going from hunting with a stone spear to using a guided missile' After about a bazillion user requests, Windows finally lets you move the audio volume pop-up Operating Systems Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant can now optionally see your entire desktop—maybe it will be able to finally explain what Windows error code 0x8007002c means Jeremy Laird 16 July 2025 Oh, and you can make it look like Clippy, too... When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Microsoft) Rejoice, for Microsoft has upgraded its Copilot Vision AI assistant with access to your entire desktop in Windows 11. Mercifully, this is an opt-in feature limited to preview builds of Windows 11, not something being rolled out compulsorily via Windows Update, for now. So our AI bot overlords haven't quite taken over the PC. Microsoft announced the move on the official Windows blog. "Now you can choose to share your whole desktop with Copilot. When you share your desktop (or any specific browser or app window), Copilot can see what you see and talk to you about it in real time. It can help analyze content, provide insights, and answer your questions, coaching you through it aloud," Microsoft explains. Previously, Copilot Vision could only be given access to individual apps and windows. Microsoft says you can use the new capability to, "get tips on making improvements to your creative project, help with improving your resume, or guidance while navigating a new game." Related Articles Latest beta version of Windows 11 gets the AI agent that Microsoft promised it would add: A search tool that works Microsoft Recall finally launches for AI PC users, along with some other new features, almost one year after Copilot+ was announced Microsoft unleashes an AI agent on your unsuspecting Windows settings, but initially only if you have a Snapdragon X-powered PC To get the whole process going, you "click the glasses icon in your composer, select the desktop that you’d like to share, and ask Copilot to help with whatever you’re working on. To stop sharing, press ‘Stop’ or ‘X’ in the composer." In theory, you should be able to ask Copilot Vision almost anything related to what's being shown on the screen using natural language voice prompts. Maybe it could be helpful for, I dunno, working out how to do a macro in Excel. I'll tell you what could be really handy, having those inscrutable alphanumeric Windows errors codes explained. If it can do that, colour me impressed. Enabling full access for Copilot Vision is just a click away... (Image credit: Microsoft) How this wil fit in with Microsoft's plan to enable customisable persona for Copilot isn't clear. Apparently, you'll even be able to have Copilot appear like ye olde Clippy, the animated paperclip assistant from Office 97. So, if you want Clippy riffling through everything you do on the desktop, this update may be for you. As that implies, there are obvious privacy concerns. The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Microsoft doesn't exactly have a impeccable track record in this area, what with it transpiring that the Recall feature in Windows 11 was originally storing desktop snapshots as unencrypted images. But, for now, this is very much an opt-in for hardcore Windows fans and devs on the WIndows Insider program. Speaking of which, this update for Copilot is part of Windows 11 build 1.25071.125 and currently limited to the Windows Insider program. You'll also need to be in a market where Windows Vision is enabled, which right now means only the US. Best gaming rigs 2025Our current recommendations 👉Check out our list of guides👈 1. Best gaming laptop: Razer Blade 16 2. Best gaming PC: HP Omen 35L 3. Best handheld gaming PC: Asus ROG Ally X 4. Best mini PC: Minisforum AtomMan G7 PT Jeremy Laird Social Links Navigation Hardware writer Jeremy has been writing about technology and PCs since the 90nm Netburst era (Google it!) and enjoys nothing more than a serious dissertation on the finer points of monitor input lag and overshoot followed by a forensic examination of advanced lithography. Or maybe he just likes machines that go “ping!” He also has a thing for tennis and cars. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. Latest beta version of Windows 11 gets the AI agent that Microsoft promised it would add: A search tool that works Microsoft Recall finally launches for AI PC users, along with some other new features, almost one year after Copilot+ was announced Microsoft unleashes an AI agent on your unsuspecting Windows settings, but initially only if you have a Snapdragon X-powered PC Windows Recall gets an export feature to let non-Microsoft websites and apps use your Copilot PC's snapshots 'AI is no longer optional': Microsoft is allegedly pressuring employees to use AI tools through manager evaluations A software engineer taught AI to hunt bugs by interfacing an LLM with debugging tools and has released the open source code: 'It's like going from hunting with a stone spear to using a guided missile' Latest in Windows Good news for multitaskers: Microsoft is gradually rolling out taskbar scaling to squeeze in as many icons as possible in the latest Windows 11 Insider build After nearly 4 years, Windows 11 is finally more popular than Windows 10 When Microsoft finally pulls the plug on Windows 10 its successor will be four years old, and for three of those, it was never the OS of choice amongst Steam users Microsoft says that 'Windows 11 PCs are up to 2.3X faster than Windows 10 PCs', neglecting to mention that it's comparing apples to bowling balls Windows 10 diehards who want security updates for free get a stay of execution, but there's a convoluted catch After about a bazillion user requests, Windows finally lets you move the audio volume pop-up Latest in News Reddit just had a meltdown for a moment: 'no content to display' on any subreddits, before deploying a server fix in surely record time The US squeezed Nvidia's AI chip export deal with China into negotiations over important rare earth elements, bizarrely claiming 'we put that in the trade deal with the magnets' As the Nintendo eShop fails to protect from 'eslop', indie devs reflect on how it affects their work and why Steam is just better: 'Their algorithm will more or less naturally bury AI slop' You can now stream Xbox-only games to your PC if you're an Insider with Game Pass Ultimate Steam will let you reverse your last 7 days of CS2 (and soon other) trades if you accidentally swap your $10,000 AK-47 for some magic beans EU-commissioned study on generative AI and copyright suggests overturning the current opt-out approach that 'effectively treats silence as consent' HARDWARE BUYING GUIDES LATEST GAME REVIEWS Best PCIe 5.0 SSD for gaming in 2025: the only Gen 5 drives I will allow in my PC Best graphics cards in 2025: I've tested pretty much every AMD and Nvidia GPU of the past 20 years and these are today's top cards Best gaming laptop in 2025: I've put the best of this new generation head-to-head and we have a winner Best gaming chair in 2025: I've tested a ton of gaming chairs and these are the seats I'd suggest for any PC gamer Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads Thermaltake S100 TG Snow Edition review Cooler Master Hyper 212 Pro review Razer Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition review Keychron M7 8K Wireless review Corsair MAKR 75 review PC Gamer is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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