Microsoft's Copilot gains local file access and OS-wide actions in Windows
At its Windows and Surface event, Microsoft showed an upgrade to Copilot that will let it reach local files on your PC and take actions across the operating system. Microsoft calls the approach "Hybrid Intelligence," in which apps and tools rely on a mix of local and cloud AI models to complete tasks efficiently. To demo it, Jacob Andreou, Microsoft's EVP of Copilot, played a video on stage asking Microsoft's Autopilot tool to help with filing taxes: he told the AI agent he had an email from his accountant and asked it to send her what she needed.
Why it matters: Giving an assistant direct access to local files and cross-app actions is a key step from chatbot toward system-level agent, and it puts permissions and privacy boundaries front and center.
At today's Windows and Surface event, Microsoft showed off an upgrade to its Copilot AI system that will give it access to local files on your PC and the ability to take actions across the OS. It's part of an idea Microsoft is calling "Hybrid Intelligence," where apps and tools rely on a mix of local and cloud AI models to accomplish tasks efficiently.
To show off how Hybrid Intelligence works, Jacob Andreou, Microsoft's EVP of Copilot, walked through a video demo on stage asking Microsoft's Autopilot tool to help with filing taxes. Andreou told the AI agent that he got an email from his accountant and asked Autopilot to get her what she …
How we got here
- Replit launches desktop app preview for Windows with Microsoft and NVIDIA sandboxingReplit · Microsoft
- Microsoft is turning Windows Search into a chatbot this fallEngadget AI · Microsoft
- GitHub adds AI secret detection to push protection, blocking leaks in under 2msGitHub Blog · AI & ML · Microsoft
- More US local outlets sue Microsoft and OpenAI over AI trainingDoNews · Microsoft
- Nobel economist Acemoglu: only ~5% of jobs will be automated by AI in 10 yearsIT之家 AI · Microsoft
- OpenMontage ships as open-source agentic video production systemGitHub Trending · Python · Copilot