Microsoft Adds AI Features to Windows 11 File Explorer Context Menu

Microsoft continues to overhaul Windows 11’s user interface, this time by introducing new AI-powered actions to the File Explorer context menu. The update, currently available to Windows Insider beta testers via Build 26200.5603, adds an ‘AI action’ sub-menu that integrates several image editing tools directly into File Explorer. These initial AI features include Bing Visual Search for finding similar images online, as well as options to blur backgrounds, erase objects, and remove backgrounds in photos and Paint. While these tools support JPG and PNG files, they primarily serve as shortcuts to existing Bing and Windows image-editing capabilities rather than groundbreaking innovations. More advanced AI actions are on the horizon, especially for Microsoft 365 subscribers. Soon, users will be able to generate document summaries and create FAQ lists using Copilot’s AI, directly from Word, PDF, or TXT files stored on OneDrive and SharePoint. Despite these enhancements, the changes have sparked mixed reactions, as many users remain frustrated with the ongoing modifications to File Explorer and the right-click menu, which have already led to a surge in third-party restoration tools. Microsoft’s broader strategy is to embed AI across its ecosystem, signaling a future where Windows is deeply integrated with AI-driven features.