Are you wondering if the new Copilot Home provides an improvement to workflow?

Is it concerning that the new Copilot AI seems to be replacing the Windows Start Menu?

Microsoft’s Copilot in Windows 11 is receiving a new design for its main screen. This update changes the experience from a simple chat window to a central hub that feels more like the Start menu, but for artificial intelligence. The new “Home” tab acts as a starting point for all of Copilot’s AI capabilities, helping you find and use them more easily. It organizes different functions into clear, accessible sections, moving beyond just text-based conversations. This change suggests a future where AI is not just an add-on but a core part of how you interact with your computer.

The Shift from Chat to a Command Center

The most significant change with the new Copilot interface is the move away from a “chat-first” design. Previously, opening Copilot presented you with a conversation box, encouraging you to type a question immediately. The new Home tab, however, greets you with a more structured layout. It presents several large, interactive cards, each representing a different AI-powered function.

This layout is designed to be a launchpad. Instead of needing to remember what you can ask the AI, the Home tab shows you what is possible. You can still access the traditional chat interface and your past conversations, but they are now one option among many. The title bar allows you to switch between this new Home tab and the old conversational view, giving you flexibility in how you use the tool. This design makes Copilot feel less like a separate application and more like an integrated part of the Windows operating system, guiding you toward useful features from the moment you open it.

Interacting with Your Files

One of the most practical features on the new Home tab is a card labeled “Jump back into your files.” This section directly connects Copilot with your recent activity on your computer, making it a powerful tool for productivity.

How It Works

This card displays a list of the files you have recently opened or worked on. It pulls this information directly from the Quick Access section in your Windows File Explorer. This means the files you use most often are immediately available within the AI interface.

User Control and Privacy

This feature is not active by default. You must first enable it in the Windows settings. This opt-in approach ensures that you have full control over whether the AI has access to your file information. If you decide you no longer want to use this feature, you can easily hide the entire “Jump back into your files” section from the Home tab with a single toggle. This focus on user permission is important for building trust.

Available Actions

Next to each file name, a three-dot menu provides several options that allow you to do more than just view the list.

• Open: Selecting this option will open the file in its default application. For example, a Word document will open in Microsoft Word, and a PDF will open in your designated PDF reader. This function turns Copilot into a smart file launcher, helping you navigate your system more efficiently.
• Attach to prompt: This action places the selected file into the chat box. You can then ask Copilot to perform tasks related to that file, such as analyzing its contents, finding specific information, or creating a summary. This is useful for quickly getting insights from documents without having to copy and paste large amounts of text.
• Summarise: This is a direct command that instructs Copilot to read the document and provide you with a concise summary. It saves you the time of having to read through a long document to understand its main points.

This file integration shows that Microsoft wants Copilot to be a helpful assistant that works with your existing files and applications, rather than keeping you confined within the AI chat window.

Guided Help for Your Applications

Another interesting feature introduced on the Home tab is the “Get guided help with your apps” card. This tool is designed to help you learn and use the software on your computer more effectively. It uses a technology called Copilot Vision, which allows the AI to see what is on your screen and provide real-time assistance.

When you click on this card, it shows you a list of your recently used applications, such as File Explorer, WhatsApp, or more complex programs like Power BI. When you select an app from this list, Copilot asks for your permission to view your screen. Once you approve, the AI can see the application’s interface just as you do.

This enables you to ask for help with specific tasks. For example, if you have Power BI open, you could ask Copilot, “How do I create a new bar chart with this data?” or “Where can I find the option to export my report?” The AI can then guide you through the steps, perhaps by highlighting buttons or describing the menus you need to click. This feature turns Copilot into a personal software tutor, available anytime you need help navigating an unfamiliar program or remembering how to perform a specific action. It makes learning new applications much less intimidating and more interactive.

Managing Your Work and Conversations

The Copilot Home tab also includes tools to help you manage your ongoing work and past interactions with the AI. These features improve organization and make it easier to continue projects over time.

One of the cards allows you to get back to your previous conversations. This is helpful for picking up where you left off, reviewing information the AI gave you earlier, or refining a previous request without starting from scratch.

Another card is for “Work on Copilot Pages.” This feature is similar to the Canvas function found in other AI tools like ChatGPT. It provides a larger, more persistent workspace where you can work with the AI on more complex tasks. Instead of a simple back-and-forth chat, Copilot Pages allows you to edit documents, write code, or organize information together with the AI. It acts like a digital whiteboard where you and Copilot can collaborate, making it suitable for drafting articles, debugging code, or brainstorming ideas in a more structured environment.

A Look at the Future: The Copilot Agent

The new interface also contains references to an upcoming feature known as the “Agent.” This represents the next step in AI automation, where Copilot will be able to perform tasks for you, not just provide information. The Agent is designed to automate multi-step processes by controlling a web browser and other tools within a secure, cloud-based virtual machine.

For instance, you could ask the Agent to “book a flight to New York for next Tuesday.” The AI would then be able to browse airline websites, compare prices, and complete the booking process on your behalf. This capability extends to a wide range of tasks, from planning a trip to ordering groceries online. While this advanced feature is not yet fully functional in Copilot for Windows 11, its planned inclusion makes it clear that Microsoft’s goal is to create a truly capable digital assistant that can handle complex real-world actions for its users.