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Windows 11's Recover feature could include a useful, time-saving web search capability that could be less controversial (for a change)

Windows 11's Recover feature could include a useful, time-saving web search capability that could be less controversial (for a change)

Windows 11's recovery feature has been causing controversy recently, to the point that Microsoft has paused the feature (for now), but a new discovery won't particularly fan any of those flames. In fact, it could well prove useful for those who eventually take the plunge with the now-delayed AI-powered functionality.

As discovered in the new preview build 26236 for Windows 11 (on the Canary channel) by regular X leaker @PhantomofEarth, the new addition to Recall, which is still hidden in testing, is a 'Search the web' option.

Windows Recall is getting a new “search the web” action for text detected by screenray in snapshots. (disabled by default, build 26236). pic.twitter.com/NsGM2CGHCvJune 12, 2024

In short, Recall is an AI feature designed specifically for PC Copilot+ that regularly takes screenshots of activity on your PC, archives them in a library, and enables searches through Microsoft's Copilot AI on Windows.

The new 'Search the web' feature allows the user to right-click any text detected in a screenshot taken by Recall, and will trigger a search on that selected text (presumably in the user's default search engine, although I can't see the feature in action).

The 'Search the web' option is present in the Recall context menu (in a snapshot) along with the 'Copy' and 'Open with' options.

New AI settings in Windows 11

X user @alex290292 commented on @PhantomofEarth's post with another interesting observation that there are also new AI-related settings in this Windows 11 preview build.

New in “Privacy and Security” pic.twitter.com/pB6FA22DxoJune 12, 2024

These are found in the Settings app, under 'Privacy & Security', where there is a 'Generative AI' panel that allows you to adjust which apps can use generative AI capabilities. Apparently, you'll also be able to review the last seven days of activity to see which apps requested to use generative AI.

To be able to see all of this for yourself, you'll need to install the preview build and use a Windows setup tool (ViVeTool) to enable Windows 11's “hidden” features, something we wouldn't recommend to anyone other than an avid enthusiast. who is comfortable experimenting with trial versions.

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