Microsoft has started testing new generative AI features in Paint and Notepad today. Paint already has an AI-powered Image Creator feature plus a more advanced Cocreator option on Copilot+ PCs, and it’s now getting Generative fill and Generative erase capabilities. Notepad, however, can now rewrite text while letting users choose a different length, format, or tone for their content
The new generative AI capabilities in Paint and Notepad are rolling out gradually to Windows Insiders on the Canary and Dev Channels. Rewrite in Notepad is available in preview to all Windows 11 users in the US, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany, and the feature requires signing in with a Microsoft account. It can be accessed by either right-clicking on selected text and choosing the Rewrite option, selecting Rewrite from the menu bar, or by using the Ctrl + I keyboard shortcut.
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This new AI feature in Notepad is also available for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, though with a limited number of AI credits to use per month. Copilot Pro subscribers will get additional AI credits to use, and this is all related to Microsoft recently making Copilot and Designer features available with Microsoft 365 consumer subscriptions in these markets, along with some price increases.
In Paint, the Image Creator feature that launched in preview last year in now available for all Windows 11 users in the US, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family and Copilot Pro subscribers in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand can also use it in exchange for AI credits.
On Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, the more advanced Cocreator feature, which can generate artwork from a text prompt plus an ongoing drawing is also getting better. “With this update, we have improved the underlying diffusion-based model for Cocreator to deliver better results faster, and with built-in moderation,” the Windows Insider team explained.
Generative fill is another new AI feature in Paint that’s rolling out first to Insiders with Snapdragon-powered Copilot PCs. It lets users describe what they want to add to an image without changing its original art style. You can see an example with the GIF below showing how to easily add a medieval castle to an artistic recreation of the classic Windows XP “Bliss” wallpaper.
Lastly, Generative erase in Paint will roll out to all Dev and Canary testers, and this feature doesn’t require a Copilot+ PC. Unlike Generative fill, this feature lets Paint users choose what they want to remove in an image.
Microsoft also released a new Windows 11 Canary build today with an updated Prism emulator for running x64 apps on Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs. This update will improve compatibility with some x64 apps that couldn’t run before due to CPU requirements.
