Hey there, my fantastic followers! It’s your favorite funny guy who loves technology, Nuked, here to bring you some exciting news from the world of Microsoft. Get ready to meet the new Copilot key, the first major change to Windows keyboards in a whopping 30 years!

Microsoft has big plans for 2024, aiming to make it “the year of the AI PC.” And what better way to kick things off than with an impressive update to the keyboard on new laptops and PCs? The new Copilot key will come pre-installed on a range of devices from Microsoft’s partners, providing quick access to Microsoft’s AI-powered Windows Copilot experience with just a press of a button.

This Copilot key marks the first significant alteration to the Windows PC keyboard layout in nearly three decades. Yusuf Mehdi, executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft, reminisces about the introduction of the Windows key all those years ago and sees the Copilot key as another transformative moment in their Windows journey.

The Copilot key will take its place right next to the right-hand alt key on Windows keyboards. It will replace the menu key (application key) that has been around since the early days. Different OEMs may place it in slightly different spots, but most keyboards will have it right next to the alt key. This is the same spot where Microsoft added a dedicated Office key back in 2019.

What does this Copilot key do, you ask? Well, it simply launches the Windows Copilot feature that’s built into Windows 11. This nifty feature provides a ChatGPT-like chatbot that can answer your queries or even perform actions within Windows. However, if Windows Copilot isn’t available in your country just yet, fret not! The Copilot key will launch Windows Search instead.

As of now, the Copilot key is solely a launch key and doesn’t have any additional functionality when combined with other keys. But who knows what Microsoft has in store for the future? We’ll have to wait and see!

Now, Microsoft is keeping mum about which OEMs will include the Copilot key, but we won’t have to wait long to find out. The announcements are expected to come during next week’s Consumer Electronics Show and beyond. Mehdi teases that we’ll start seeing the Copilot key on new Windows 11 PCs from their ecosystem partners, with availability starting later this month through Spring. And yes, you guessed it, upcoming Surface devices will also feature this dedicated Copilot key!

This new Copilot key is just one piece of the puzzle as Microsoft ramps up its AI-powered changes for Windows in 2024. They’ve been integrating Copilot into various aspects throughout 2023, and this keyboard update is part of their grand plan to create a more personal and intelligent computing future. According to Mehdi, AI will seamlessly weave into Windows from the system to the hardware, simplifying and amplifying our computing experience.

And let’s not forget that Microsoft is also working on a Windows “refresh” that will introduce new AI features and bring AI to even more parts of their software and services. They’re not holding back on their AI push, even going so far as to brand Microsoft Edge as the “AI browser” right at the start of the year. Exciting times ahead!

Well, my tech-loving friends, that’s all for now. Stay tuned for more updates on Microsoft’s AI-filled journey in 2024. Until then, keep smiling and keep embracing the wonders of technology!

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