Microsoft announced today that it will start rolling out its AI-powered Windows Recall feature to Insiders with Copilot+ PCs in October.
This AI feature takes screenshots of active windows on your PC, analyzes them on-device using a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and an AI model, and adds the information to an SQLite database.
You can later search for this data using natural language to prompt Windows Recall to retrieve relevant screenshots. However, privacy advocates and cybersecurity experts have warned that Windows Recall is a privacy nightmare that threat actors would likely abuse to steal user data.
Today's update follows the company's announcement on June 7 that it would tweak Recall to be more secure by making it an opt-in feature and ensuring that the database stays encrypted until a user authenticates with Windows Hello when opening the app.
One week later, Redmond postponed the Recall launch for further testing due to significant customer pushback, as well as privacy and security concerns. The company also revealed that the feature would first be available for preview with Windows Insiders.
This Wednesday, Microsoft once again updated the story announcing the above changes (as first spotted by The Verge), saying that Windows Insiders with Copilot+ PCs will be able to start testing Recall this October.
"With a commitment to delivering a trustworthy and secure Recall (preview) experience on Copilot+ PCs for customers, we're sharing an update that Recall will be available to Windows Insiders starting in October," Microsoft said.
"As previously shared on June 13, we have adjusted our release approach to leverage the valuable expertise of our Windows Insider community prior to making Recall available for all Copilot+ PCs."
The company also promised today to prioritize security with the preview Recall installment (which aligns with its recent pledge to prioritize security above all else) and said that more details will be published in a new blog when the feature rolls out.
Comments
jmwoods - 2 months ago
Recall sounds like a solution looking for a problem.
ctigga - 2 months ago
Problem: How can we better spy on our users so we have more data to sell?
Solution: Build the malware into the OS and market it as a "feature"
All it takes is ONE incompetent person [or organization] who handles confidential/sensitive data to turn this on and create security nightmares for others. Is MSFT accepting full liability for those leaks? I suspect their terms of use will waive all such responsibility as has heretofore been the case.
Modern MSFT is so disappointing.
doncoyote - 2 months ago
Maybe this'll motivate more for Windows applications and programs on Linux Mint and other GNU OS forks.
IsResistanceUseless - 2 months ago
More data grabbing. Just think when your kids get to 18 Microsoft, Google and Meta will know enough about them to create chatbots absed on their lives so far, who knows maybe an AI virtual version of your children will be working free of charge for these companies in the future, isn't that a nice thought ?
NoneRain - 2 months ago
Google has been collecting every piece of data since ever, and right now you utilize their services, knowingly or not, so you don't need to wait another 18 years: Google already has 20+ of yours.
For data collecting purposes, Recall is not the big deal. Sure, be against it, but people are just too selective and ignore other already in place data harvesters much more efficient for big data.
The big issue with Recall is not that: it has the potential to be a nightmare if that data is grabbed by malicious actors, and since it will be available locally, a rat with admin privileges could potentially just take it and grab ss of passwords/creditcards, or any other sensitive info to extort victims.
Mahhn - 2 months ago
If only the one PC game I play ran on Linux, I would forever say goodby to MS. Everything else I do is web based or (audio studio) running OFF LINE on W7 box. MS is so set on manipulation of people - making them the product and not the OS.