Microsoft is adding more AI-powered features to its Notepad and Paint apps for Windows 11.
Notepad version 11.2410.15.0 will include a new AI rewrite feature that will allow you to reword sentences using AI. The tool can edit sentences or longer sections of text to shorten or lengthen the number of words, change the tone, or format it in a different way.
The rewrite tool will generate three versions of your highlighted text at the same time. You can also get it to generate another new output by clicking a refresh button. Or, have it replace the highlighted section with AI text on the screen by selecting “Replace”. Notepad’s AI rewrite shortcut is Ctrl + I while in the app.
The rewrite is currently available in preview for Windows Insiders on Windows 11 in the US, UK, Canada, France, Italy, and Germany. If you’re based in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand or Malaysia, you’ll only be able to use Rewrite in Notepad if you have a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family or Copilot Pro subscription – and there will be your AI credits. Microsoft has not shared a release date for the full version or announced wider availability.
While Rewrite can help users potentially improve their writing, it can also result in your work being flagged as AI-generated – even if only parts of it are replaced with AI text. But just a few AI-edited sentences can sneak past AI detectors and be used to break existing rules at some universities or publishers that ban any AI-generated writing.
Retype in Notepad (Credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft’s Paint is also getting some new AI-powered features. Paint version 11.2410.28.0 will include a generative fill feature similar to Adobe Photoshop. Paint’s generative fill will allow you to add various objects or visual effects to a selected area, meaning you can add castles, stars, cats or pretty much anything you like just by typing text and Select “Keep” if you are satisfied with the result. or “Try again” if it’s not what you hoped for. It’s like the AI-powered personalized clip.
Copilot+ PC users who are also Windows Insiders will first have access to Paint’s generative fill tool. It can be reached by going to Selection Tool > Generative Fill.
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Generative erase is another new Paint feature, but it will be available to all Windows Insiders with Windows 11 to begin with. Generative erasing lets you quickly remove elements of an image while the AI mimics what it perceives as the background of your image to quickly and seamlessly replace the erased area with the background pattern.
Paint’s previously announced Image Creator feature, which is still in preview, is now getting a wider initial rollout.
To access most of these new features, you’ll need to sign in to a Microsoft account and be part of Microsoft’s Windows Insider program.
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About Kate Irwin
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