Microsoft is delaying its controversial Recall feature once again. The AI-powered Recall feature for the Copilot+ PC platform was supposed to begin rolling out for Windows Insiders in October. However, as the month ended, Microsoft confirmed it needed more time to prepare Recall.
In a recent statement to The Verge, Windows senior product manager Brandon LeBlanc says, “We are committed to delivering a secure and trusted experience with Recall.” LeBlanc continues to state, “To ensure we deliver on these important updates, we’re taking additional time to refine the experience before previewing it with Windows Insiders.”
In the statement, LeBlanc confirms that “Recall will now be available for preview with Windows Insiders on Copilot Plus PCs by December.” Earlier this year, Microsoft announced that Windows Insiders will have exclusive access to Recall. Microsoft seemed confident in its rollout towards October, when the company announced that Recall has been enhanced with a bevy of new security features, including firmware protection, passkey support, biometric authentications, and enhanced sign-on security, all on by default.
The feature was first revealed this year alongside Microsoft’s unveiling of the Copilot+ PC platform. For the uninitiated, Recall is an AI-powered function which locates previously viewed content for users when asked. This can be anything from a webpage for a jacket, an email, etc. Recall periodically takes snapshots of what’s on the screen to use for these queries.
Recall has understandably been met with a lot of controversy. Users have been worried about having a feature to take screenshots of their experience on their PC, even though all images are encrypted, stored, and analyzed locally. Following the announcement of the feature, Microsoft added the ability to opt out right from the start. Alternatively, you can manage which permissions Recall has and control what it’s able to take snapshots of with biometrics and encryption keys securing this data.
It’s uncertain exactly what Microsoft needs to do to “refine the experience” before Windows Insiders get their hands on the feature. However, with this feature in mind, the company will have to ensure that there are no holes in the system and that user security is maintained from start to finish.
Want to see more of our stories on Google?
P.S. Want to keep this site truly independent? Support us by buying us a beer, treating us to a coffee, or shopping through Amazon here. Links in this post are affiliate links, so we earn a tiny commission at no charge to you. Thanks for supporting independent Canadian media!
‘Microsoft added the ability to opt out right from the state’. Did you mean ‘start’?
Thanks, fixed!