Microsoft postpones the launch of its controversial Recall AI feature

Microsoft’s Recall AI feature will not be launching with the first batch of Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs on June 18. In an update on the Windows Blog, the company announced that Recall will transition from being a “preview experience broadly available for Copilot+ PCs” to a preview exclusive to the Windows Insider Program. The feature will only be released for all Copilot+ PCs after feedback is received from the Insider Community of testers.

Microsoft stated that the adjustment in Recall’s release is to ensure that the experience meets their high standards for quality and security. Despite facing criticism since the feature was announced, Recall aims to provide users with a way to easily find content they have accessed on their computer. The feature works by capturing screenshots of a user’s activity and storing them in the “Recall timeline.”

Microsoft has made efforts to address privacy concerns by implementing changes to Recall, such as making it an opt-in feature and requiring Windows Hello authentication for access. However, the company has decided to delay the launch of Recall to further refine the feature and ensure it meets privacy and security standards. The exact availability date of Recall in the Windows Insider Program is yet to be determined, but it will be accessible to testers in the coming weeks.

Testers will need a Copilot+ PC with advanced CPUs that include neural processing units (NPUs) for AI tasks to access Recall. Microsoft will provide instructions on how to access the preview version of Recall when it becomes available. In the meantime, the company continues to work on improving the feature to prevent any potential privacy and security issues.