In an exciting update, Microsoft is integrating cutting-edge AI tools into two of its classic applications: Notepad and Paint. The tech giant is enhancing the simple, decades-old Notepad text editor with a powerful new feature called Rewrite, which will allow users to edit text with the help of artificial intelligence. This feature, currently available in preview for Windows Insiders, enables users to rephrase sentences, adjust the tone, and modify the length of their content, all with a few simple clicks.
The process is straightforward. Once you highlight a section of text in Notepad, a right-click will present you with the option to “Rewrite.” This opens a dialogue box where users can specify the changes they want, such as making the text shorter or longer, or altering its style and tone. Based on your preferences, Notepad will generate three alternative versions of your text, allowing you to pick the one that best fits your needs.
However, there’s a catch: in order to access the Rewrite feature, users must sign in with their Microsoft account. This is because the AI processing happens on a cloud-based service, meaning the tool requires authentication and authorization to function. For now, the Rewrite tool is rolling out to Windows 11 users in specific regions, including the US, UK, France, Canada, Germany, and Italy. The feature builds on earlier updates, such as the addition of spell check and autocorrect that Microsoft rolled out to Notepad back in July.
But that’s not all. Microsoft is also introducing AI image editing tools to Paint, another iconic app in its lineup. The new features, Generative Fill and Generative Erase, are being tested by Insiders as well.
- Generative Fill allows users to enhance images by inserting new elements based on a text prompt. This feature enables creative additions, whether it’s adding more detail to a photo or creating new objects in the image.
- Generative Erase, on the other hand, lets users remove parts of an image. The AI then fills in the empty space seamlessly, making it look like the deleted section was never there.