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After 30 years, Microsoft will add a new key to keyboards
Unsurprisingly, artificial intelligence once again played a major role in this, more precisely Microsoft's artificial intelligence, which the American technology company wants to expand to practically all aspects of computing life. They recently introduced the AI assistant Copilot, which surprisingly is also available on the older Windows 10.
Obviously, artificial intelligence will not only affect the software side of computers, but also the physical side. Microsoft is working to get keyboard manufacturers to add a new physical Copilot key, which will understandably serve to quickly launch Copilot on Windows 10 and 11. Until then, users will continue to use the Windows + C shortcut (on compatible systems). On incompatible systems and computers without a Microsoft account, the Copilot key will launch a general system search instead.
Microsoft's presentation clip shows that the Copilot key will be placed between the arrow keys and the right Alt key. The exact position will depend on the size and layout of the keyboard, and which keys the manufacturer will add in addition to the ones mentioned (Ctrl, slider, function key...).
Microsoft says the key won't be mandatory for now, but eventually expects manufacturers to add the Copilot key to all new Windows keyboards. If nothing else, they will be encouraged to do so by working with Microsoft, which often imposes additional hardware requirements if manufacturers want to use their systems.
The Copilot key will be introduced at CES 2024. Surface computers will be the first to get the new key.
In the end, the new key is just another indication of how badly Microsoft wants to harness the potential of artificial intelligence. It wouldn't change us if the next Windows 12 was designed entirely around AI.
