Microsoft announces the November relaunch of its AI-powered 'Recall' tool on new CoPilot+ computers, following extensive privacy-focused modifications in response to earlier criticism.
In a significant pivot, Microsoft is set to reintroduce its AI tool 'Recall' this November, addressing privacy concerns that led to its postponement shortly after its May 2024 unveiling. The tech giant's decision comes after the tool, initially hailed as a digital photographic memory, faced backlash from privacy advocates who labeled it a potential "privacy nightmare."
The controversy surrounding Recall prompted the UK's data watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), to investigate the tool.
When first introduced, Microsoft ambitiously described Recall as using AI "to make it possible to access virtually anything you have ever seen on your PC." The tool was designed to capture desktop screenshots every few seconds, enabling users to search through their past activity, including files, photos, emails, and browsing history.
In addition to making Recall opt-in, Microsoft has implemented several new security measures. Access to screenshots will now require biometric login, and sensitive information such as credit card details will not be captured by default. However some "diagnostic data" may still be shared with Microsoft, depending on individual privacy settings.
The revamped Recall will be available exclusively on Microsoft's new CoPilot+ range of laptops, which the company touts as the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built. These bespoke computers feature powerful inbuilt AI chips, positioning them at the forefront of AI-integrated personal computing.