Microsoft is rolling out AI-powered summaries in Microsoft Notepad for Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels. This feature allows users to quickly generate concise overviews of selected text, making it easier to process large amounts of information. Users can access AI summaries in Microsoft Notepad by highlighting text, right-clicking, and selecting “Summarize” or using the shortcut Ctrl + M.
These updates align with Microsoft’s broader AI strategy, such as recently developing indepdendent AI reasoning models.
Key Takeaways
- Microsoft Notepad now includes AI-powered summaries to help users quickly process large amounts of text.
- Users can adjust the length of AI summaries and access them via right-click or the Ctrl + M shortcut.
- A “Recent Files” menu has been added to Microsoft Notepad, allowing users to quickly reopen previously edited documents.
- The Snipping Tool introduces a “Draw & Hold” feature for creating precise shapes when marking up screenshots.
- Developers can now customize the Snipping Tool’s capture features for improved integration with their applications.
Microsoft Notepad users can also adjust the length of the AI summaries according to their needs. To use this feature, users must be signed into a Microsoft account. Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Copilot Pro subscribers will have access to additional AI credits for generating summaries. Those who prefer not to use AI features can disable them in the app settings.
Improved file access with the recent files menu
In addition to AI summaries, Microsoft Notepad now includes a “Recent Files” menu. This allows users to easily reopen previously edited documents from the “File” menu, reducing the time spent searching for past work. If desired, users can clear their recent files list or turn off this feature in the settings.
Snipping Tool introduces ‘Draw & Hold’ for precise shapes
Microsoft has also updated the Snipping Tool with a new “Draw & Hold” feature, designed to improve the precision of markups on screenshots. Users can now draw lines, arrows, rectangles, and ovals, and by holding the cursor still for a moment, the shape will automatically straighten. This functionality ensures cleaner annotations and provides the ability to resize, move, or adjust shapes before finalizing them.
Enhanced developer integration in Snipping Tool
The Snipping Tool update also includes improvements for developers. A new protocol allows developers to customize which capture features appear when their apps invoke the tool. This enhances integration with modern web-based applications while improving security and flexibility.
These updates highlight Microsoft’s ongoing efforts to enhance user experience with AI tools, making both Microsoft Notepad and the Snipping Tool more efficient and user-friendly.
The Bottom Line
Microsoft’s latest updates to Microsoft Notepad and the Snipping Tool reflect its continued focus on enhancing productivity with AI tools. The introduction of AI summaries in Microsoft Notepad offers users a faster way to digest information, while the new Snipping Tool features improve annotation accuracy.
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