Microsoft plans to introduce new Copilot Plus computers next week without the controversial Recall feature that displays screenshots of everything you do on these new laptops. The software maker is recalling the Recall feature so it can be tested by the Windows Insider program after promising to ship it as an opt-in feature with additional security improvements.
“We are adjusting the release model for Recall to take advantage of the experience of the Windows Insider community to ensure that the experience meets high standards of quality and security,” Microsoft said. updated blog post. “Once the rollback (preview) is available in the Windows Insider Program, we’ll publish a blog post with details on how to get the preview.”
This means that Recall won’t even be available initially to Windows Insiders or anyone who buys a Copilot Plus PC. I wrote in Notepad earlier today that Windows engineers are working to test and implement security improvements in time for the June 18 launch of Copilot Plus PCs. Now, Microsoft is actually admitting that it needs more time to test Recall’s security improvements.
Microsoft first introduced the Recall feature last month as part of its upcoming Copilot Plus PCs, but since then privacy advocates and security experts have warned that without changes, Recall could be a “disaster” for cybersecurity. Microsoft committed to three major updates to Recall last week, including making the AI-powered feature the login experience instead of being enabled by default, encrypting the database, and authenticating via Windows Hello.
Recall basically uses the native AI models built into Windows 11 to take a screenshot of everything you see or do on your PC and then let you search and retrieve the items you see. An explorable timeline lets you scroll through these snapshots to get a glimpse of what you did on a given day on your computer. Everything in Recall is designed to stay local and private to the device, so no data is used to train Microsoft’s AI models.
Microsoft’s decision to postpone the recall came shortly after Vice Chairman and President Brad Smith testified today before the House Homeland Security Committee. Smith said Microsoft puts security first as part of its Secure Future Initiative (SFI). “It’s even more important than the company’s work on artificial intelligence,” says Smith.
Smith also announced that Microsoft will make security a mandatory part of the biannual vetting process for all employees. “With this change, cyber security will be factored into every employee’s annual bonus and compensation,” Smith said.
I stated in Notepad today that Recall was originally created before Microsoft’s major SFI overhaul began. The recall was developed in secret at Microsoft and was not even publicly tested with Windows Insiders. Microsoft later identified some security issues with Recall and began developing and testing changes to the experience in recent months. More time is needed now to make sure these changes deliver on the promise of putting security ahead of AI and everything else.