Microsoft’s Recall feature, the AI-enabled timeline for Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs, will only be available to members of the Windows Insider Program in October. The feature was delayed earlier because of concerns about storing data without encryption.
Microsoft had planned to launch a public preview of Recall on June 18, but later canceled it to get more feedback from the community. The new plan was to release the feature to Windows Insider members later that month, but that didn’t happen.
Now, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Windows and Devices Pavan Davuluri has updated a blog post to reveal the new timeline without explaining the delays.
“We are committed to offering a trustworthy and secure Recall (preview) experience on Copilot+ PCs for customers, and we are sharing that Recall will be available to Windows Insiders starting in October,” it said.
Davuluri also mentioned that a new blog with more details will be shared in October once the Windows Insider Program rollout has begun. However, based on past experiences, Recall is unlikely to be released to the general public until weeks or months later.
Recall captures a user’s activity on their Copilot+ PC, allowing generative AI to search through that activity to answer questions in a natural way. While it could be useful for open-ended searches, some security researchers are worried about how the activity is stored.
Davuluri explained in a blog post on June 13 why Recall would only be released to Windows Insider members initially.
“We are changing the release model for Recall to take advantage of the expertise of the Windows Insider community to ensure the experience meets our high standards for quality and security,” he wrote.
Microsoft emphasized that Recall’s development is guided by the Secure Future Initiative, which aims to improve security methods and practices.
After receiving feedback from Windows Insider members, Recall will be available to all Copilot+ PC users.
Interested individuals can join the Windows Insider program for free.
On June 7, Microsoft announced that Recall will be an opt-in feature instead of being enabled by default on Copilot+ PCs due to security concerns.
Security researchers like Kevin Beaumont raised concerns about attackers being able to access Recall data without physical access to a Copilot+ laptop.
Microsoft made the following changes to how Recall will work:
– Recall will be opt-in.
– Users will need to enroll in Windows Hello and provide proof of presence.
– The search index database Recall uses will be encrypted, and data will remain encrypted until Windows Hello authentication.
These changes were made amid a discussion in the U.S. Congress about Microsoft’s overall security posture.
Apple’s upcoming Apple Intelligence, a response to Copilot+ PCs, will allow Siri to respond to natural questions and perform functions like summarization and translation. Apple Intelligence runs on-device and on Apple servers, addressing potential security concerns raised by the integration of AI into laptops.
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