Microsoft has added a new setting for its AI assistant, which is now available to Windows Insiders. To initiate a voice chat with Copilot, hold down Alt + Space for two seconds.
Image source: blogs.windows.com
The new feature is available in the Copilot app from the Microsoft Store, and will soon be available to all Windows Insiders. Instead of typing a request, a keyboard shortcut brings up a small microphone icon on the screen, indicating that you can start a voice conversation with Copilot, asking the AI assistant questions and giving commands. If you don’t make a voice command within a few seconds, the microphone icon will disappear and Copilot will shut down.
Over the past year, Microsoft has repeatedly improved the AI assistant client for Windows. First, the web application was replaced by a native one, and now a quick call to the voice format has appeared – it will allow users to get answers to their questions without being distracted from the work process, Microsoft noted.
Previously, the keyboard shortcut for launching Copilot in Windows was “Win + C.” Many modern computers now come with a dedicated Copilot key, which would be an obvious choice for launching voice functions. But most machines don’t have one yet, so Microsoft needed a universal alternative. Notably, the “Alt + Space” combination also launches the PowerToys Run component of the Microsoft PowerToys utility suite. The Siri voice assistant also has its own keyboard shortcut on Apple macOS computers.