Microsoft is adding a new button to the keyboards of Windows PCs dedicated to its Copilot AI assistant. This is the first change to the Windows keyboard in 30 years and reflects the growing importance of AI in computing. Microsoft executive VP Yusuf Mehdi believes that this is the year of the AI PC and that it will fundamentally change how people interact with their computers. The Copilot key will be located to the right of the space bar and will replace a menu button. The first PCs with the dedicated key will be announced at CES, with more coming by spring. Pressing the new button will launch the Windows Copilot, which allows users to modify computer settings, launch apps, and perform other computing tasks. If Windows Copilot is not enabled, pressing the key will take users to Windows search. Microsoft’s integration of AI into its hardware is part of a broader reimagining of the PC for the AI era. Other companies, such as Google, Amazon, and Meta, are also incorporating AI features into their hardware. The question remains whether the PC will need to further evolve to fully harness AI.
