[DigitalToday reporter Chi-gyu Hwang (황치규)] Microsoft plans to launch its 'Ask Copilot' feature this summer to replace the Windows 11 taskbar search box with a Copilot chat environment, Windows Central reported on May 26 (local time).
Ask Copilot focuses on integrating Microsoft 365 Copilot and AI agents directly into the taskbar and Start menu, the report said.
With Ask Copilot, a pop-up window would appear instead of the current Windows taskbar search screen. Users would be able to search local files or chat with Copilot. In tests, the new search screen found local files and apps more accurately than the existing Windows search, Windows Central said.
Ask Copilot has not yet been officially released and is scheduled for deployment in mid-2026. The timeline may change.
Ask Copilot is not a default setting and can be used if a user opts in. It is targeting enterprise users of Microsoft 365, Windows Central said.
For users who do not want Ask Copilot, Microsoft is also improving Windows search itself. It recently began testing a change that prioritises local file and app results over internet search results, Windows Central said.
Chi-gyu Hwang
delight@d-today.co.kr