Microsoft is reportedly making moves to bring Copilot, its generative AI-powered personal assistant, to late adopters of its operating systems. According to a report by Windows Central’s Zac Bowden, the Copilot button and sidebar from Windows 11 will soon make their way to Windows 10. This move is expected to significantly expand Copilot’s user base, as Windows 10 still operates on around one billion monthly active devices, while Windows 11 has approximately 400 million monthly active devices.
The AI assistant for Windows 11 was launched in beta in August and became officially available in September. It is anticipated that the Windows 10 version of Copilot will include plugins that work across both operating systems. Bowden believes that the experience and capabilities of Copilot will be roughly the same across Windows 10 and Windows 11, including plugin compatibility.
The report also suggests that Microsoft’s decision to expand Copilot to Windows 10 is aimed at encouraging more developers to create plugins for the AI assistant. By making Copilot available on 1.4 billion devices, including both Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices, Microsoft hopes to entice developers into building plugins for the platform.
In light of this development, Engadget reached out to Microsoft for comment, but as of the time of the report, a response had not been received. However, the article was updated to reflect any comments from the company if and when they are received.
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Furthermore, the report by Bowden also touches on Microsoft’s strategy with regard to Windows 10. It is suggested that the company is reconsidering its earlier plans to move on quickly from Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft is reportedly looking into adding “select new features and services” previously exclusive to Windows 11 to the older operating system. This may include extending Windows 10 support, which is currently set to expire in October 2025.
The proposed extension of support for Windows 10 comes as Microsoft continues to assess its future plans for the operating system. Despite the availability of Windows 11, a large number of users continue to rely on Windows 10. By bringing Copilot to Windows 10 and potentially adding new features and services exclusive to Windows 11, Microsoft seeks to provide users with more incentive to stick with the older operating system.
The move to enhance Windows 10 with features from Windows 11 and to bring Copilot to the older platform demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to offering a more seamless and integrated user experience across its different operating systems. Additionally, this strategic shift aligns with broader industry trends toward providing more cohesive and inclusive solutions to users across various device types and operating systems.
As Microsoft continues to evaluate future developments for its Windows operating systems, the expansion of Copilot and the potential addition of new features to Windows 10 signal a shift in the company’s approach to managing its diverse user base. This move may not only benefit users by enhancing the capabilities of Windows 10 but also support developers in creating new and innovative experiences for Microsoft’s vast ecosystem of devices and users.
