According to TheRegister.com, Microsoft is testing a significant Windows 11 change that replaces the standard search box with an “Ask Copilot anything” interface in the taskbar. The feature is currently available in Windows Insider Dev and Beta builds 26220.7051 or higher, though it’s disabled by default and requires additional steps to activate. Users need to download ViveTool from GitHub and enable the feature through Settings after rebooting. The Copilot search box displays both traditional search results and AI prompts as you type, but behaves differently than regular search – for example, it couldn’t find “winver” while traditional search could. The interface opens a floating dialog in the middle of the screen and includes Copilot Vision for screen analysis, though testing showed inaccurate results like miscounting desktop icons.
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Why this matters
Look, this isn’t just another feature test – it’s Microsoft‘s latest move to cram AI into every possible user interaction. They’re basically betting the farm on Copilot becoming the primary way people interact with Windows. And honestly, it makes perfect business sense when you consider their massive investment in AI infrastructure and their competition with Google and Apple.
But here’s the thing: does this actually improve the user experience? The testing shows some pretty concerning gaps. When Copilot can’t find basic system files that regular search handles easily, that’s a problem. And the floating dialog that appears in the middle of your screen? That’s just disruptive UI design.
The business push
Microsoft isn’t doing this because users are demanding AI-powered search. They’re doing it because they need to justify their enormous AI investments and create new revenue streams. Every time you use Copilot instead of traditional search, it’s another data point for Microsoft’s AI models and another potential subscription opportunity down the line.
Think about it – if this becomes the default search experience, Microsoft essentially gets to control how millions of people discover information on their computers. That’s incredibly valuable real estate. And they’re clearly willing to sacrifice some functionality to get there, at least in these early stages.
Should you enable it?
Honestly? Probably not unless you’re genuinely curious about where Microsoft is heading with Windows. The current implementation feels like what it is – an experiment that’s not quite ready for prime time. The inconsistent search results alone make it frustrating for daily use.
I’d stick with traditional search for now and hope Microsoft keeps this optional. Because let’s be real – sometimes you just want to find a file or launch an app without having a conversation with an AI assistant. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
