In its latest blog post, Microsoft announced it will introduce a new Copilot key on keyboards of many partner PCs and laptops, allowing quick access to the Windows Copilot AI assistant with just a button press.

The Copilot key represents the first major change to the Windows keyboard layout in nearly three decades. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's Executive Vice President and Head of Consumer Marketing, wrote on the blog: “Nearly 30 years ago, we introduced the Windows key to PC keyboards to help people around the world interact with Windows. We see it (the Copilot key) as another turning point in our journey with Windows, where Copilot is the starting point for entering the world of AI on PCs.”

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The Copilot key is located next to the Alt key on the right. (Image: Microsoft)

The new Copilot key will replace the menu key next to the Windows key. It will be located right next to the ALT key on most keyboards. It's in the same position as the Office key on Microsoft's own keyboards. Pressing the key will launch Windows Copilot, built into Windows 11, providing a chatbot similar to ChatGPT to answer questions or perform tasks on the computer.

If Windows Copilot isn't available in a particular country, the Copilot key will open Windows Search instead. While the Windows key can now open the start menu or be combined with other keys to create shortcuts to Windows features, the current Copilot key isn't that versatile. Microsoft's future plans remain unclear.

Microsoft hasn't revealed which companies will be adding the Copilot key to their computer keyboards, stating they will announce it at next week's CES event. According to Mehdi, we'll start seeing the Copilot key on new Windows 11 computers from ecosystem partners from the end of January through the spring, including Surface devices.

Microsoft is rumored to be launching the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 this spring. According to The Verge, it seems the Windows maker wants to incorporate Copilot into everything, and the Copilot key is just one of the bigger changes planned for Windows in 2024.

“This year, we’re launching a significant shift toward a more intelligent and personalized computing future where AI will be seamlessly interwoven into Windows from the system, chip to hardware,” Mehdi said. “This will not only simplify everyone’s computing experience but also amplify it, making 2024 the year of AI PCs.”

In early 2024, Microsoft called the Edge browser an “AI browser.” The company has been adding more and more AI features to the browser. The name “AI browser” appears on both iOS and Android app versions. If you search for Edge on the App Store, you’re likely to see ads highlighting all of its AI features.

(According to The Verge)