Microsoft plans to launch its new Copilot Plus PCs next week without its controversial Recall feature that takes screenshots of everything you do on these new laptops. The software maker is putting Recall on hold so it can test it with the Windows Insider program, after originally promising to ship Recall as an opt-in feature with additional security improvements.
“We're adjusting the release model for Recall to leverage the expertise of the Windows Insider community to ensure the experience meets our highest standards for quality and security,” Microsoft said in an updated blog post. fulfills.” “When Recall (preview) becomes available in the Windows Insider Program, we'll publish a blog post with details on how to get the preview.”
This means the recall will not initially be available to Windows Insiders or anyone who purchased a Copilot Plus PC. I wrote in Notepad earlier today that Windows engineers were scrambling to test and implement security improvements in time for Copilot Plus PC's June 18th launch date. Now, Microsoft is basically admitting here that it needs more time to test Recall's security improvements.
Microsoft first unveiled the Recall feature last month as part of its upcoming Copilot Plus PCs, but since then, privacy advocates and security experts have been warning that Recall will leave cybersecurity unchanged. may prove to be a “disaster” for Microsoft committed to three major updates to Recall last week, including making the AI-powered feature an opt-in experience instead of on by default, encrypting databases, and authenticating through Windows Hello.
Recall uses native AI models built into Windows 11 to screenshot most of what you see or do on your computer and then gives you the ability to find and retrieve items you have seen A discoverable timeline lets you scroll through snapshots to see what you did on your computer on a particular day. Everything in Recall is designed to stay local and private on the device, so no data is used to train Microsoft's AI models.
Microsoft's decision to delay the recall came after Vice Chair and President Brad Smith testified before the House Homeland Security Committee today. Smith said Microsoft is putting 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 revealed that Microsoft will make security a mandatory part of its biannual review process for all employees. “With this change, cyber security will be considered in every employee's annual bonus and compensation,” Smith said.
I reported earlier today in Notepad that Recall was originally created before Microsoft's major SFI overhaul began. Recall was developed in secret at Microsoft, and has not been 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. Clearly more time is now needed to ensure these changes live up to AI and its promise to put security above all else.