Microsoft is transforming Notepad from a basic text editor into an AI-powered writing companion. Currently available to Windows Insiders, these optional updates integrate “Copilot-like” intelligence directly into the classic application.
New AI Writing Tools
The update introduces three primary AI tools designed to assist with text creation and refinement:
Write: Generates new content based on user prompts.
Rewrite: Rephrases or improves the quality of existing text.
Summarize: Condenses lengthy passages into short, digestible summaries.
To improve the user experience, Microsoft implemented streaming responses, allowing users to see AI results appear progressively rather than waiting for the entire block of text to finish.
Technical and Functional Upgrades
Beyond writing assistance, Notepad now features expanded Markdown support, including nested lists and strikethrough text. A new welcome screen helps guide users through these enhancements.
Technically, these features run on a hybrid model. Depending on a user’s hardware, some tasks are processed locally on the device, while more complex creative tasks utilize cloud-based models.
Access and Privacy
Because these features are experimental, they are disabled by default to ensure user control. To use them, users must:
- Enable the tools in the application settings.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account.
Broader Strategy
This update is part of a larger effort to modernize “classic” Windows apps like Paint, which is also receiving AI-driven tools like smarter fill and coloring book page generation. By embedding AI into lightweight tools, Microsoft aims to provide quick productivity gains for developers, students, and business users without requiring them to open heavy word processors.
In the future, Microsoft may expand these AI toolbars to other apps like Mail or Calendar and provide enterprise-level controls for business compliance.