Microsoft adds Hey Copilot and Vision AI to Windows 11 PC

Microsoft has unveiled a new wave of AI capabilities for Windows 11, adding a hands‑free wake word and expanding Copilot’s screen‑aware Vision features, as the company deepens its push to make voice and on‑screen assistance part of everyday PC use.

The update has introduced an opt‑in wake phrase, “Hey, Copilot”, allowing Windows 11 users to start voice interactions without touching the keyboard or mouse.

Microsoft has said the feature works when the PC is powered on and unlocked, and has been trained initially for English. The company has previously detailed that wake‑word detection uses a short on‑device audio buffer and that the phrase triggers a voice session with Copilot.

Vision has turned Copilot into an on‑screen guide

Copilot Vision has been expanded to help the assistant understand what is on a user’s screen—when permission is granted—and offer contextual help, from pointing out where to click to explaining settings changes.

Microsoft previewed step‑by‑step highlights inside a shared app window and support for analysing up to two apps at once, capabilities that have first appeared via the Copilot app for Windows Insiders.

What can Copilot actually do now?

Alongside voice and Vision, Microsoft has introduced Copilot Actions—agent‑style behaviours that can carry out tasks such as booking tables or sorting travel, working with launch partners like OpenTable, Expedia and Booking.com.

The company has said these actions operate with limited permissions and only access data a user authorises.

The push has come as Microsoft repositions Windows 11 around AI following the end of Windows 10 support on 14 October 2025. Chief executive Satya Nadella has framed Copilot as central to this next era of Windows, while consumer chief Yusuf Mehdi has emphasised making AI feel naturally woven into daily computing.