Windows Notepad Enhances Functionality with AI Summarization

Microsoft is rolling out exciting new features for Windows 11 Insiders as the company begins testing an AI-powered text summarization tool called "Summarize" in Notepad, along with a "Draw & Hold" feature in the Snipping Tool. This highly anticipated addition is now available to users in the Canary and Dev Channels who have upgraded to Notepad version 11.2501.29.0.  To utilize the Summarize feature, users can select the text, right-click to choose to Summarize, select it from the Copilot menu, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + M. Once activated, Notepad will generate a concise summary of the selected content, allowing users to experiment with different summary lengths to better suit their needs. For those who prefer not to see AI options in Notepad's interface, these can be disabled in the app's settings. However, to access the Summarize tool, users need to sign in with their Microsoft personal account, as it relies on AI credits linked to subscriptions such as Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Copilot Pro. Additionally, Notepad is testing a new "Recent Files" option accessed through the Edit menu, making it easier to reopen recently closed documents. Users can also clear their recent file history or disable this feature via settings. In another update, the Snipping Tool has introduced the "Draw & Hold" feature, which allows users to draw shapes like lines, arrows, and rectangles more accurately using the pen tool. These new features are gradually rolling out, and Microsoft plans to gather feedback from Insiders before a broader release. These updates are part of Microsoft’s efforts to enhance Notepad with AI capabilities, following the earlier introduction of a text rewriting tool called "Rewrite," which helps users automatically rephrase content, and other features like a character counter and spell check.