Microsoft is delaying the release of AI-powered recall, it will be tested with Windows Insiders first

Microsoft is delaying the release of its Recall feature and it won’t be available when the first Copilot+ PCs hit the market on June 18. The tech giant unveiled Recall, an artificial intelligence (AI) feature that tracks and displays user history on the device using intermittent snapshots, at last month’s Microsoft Surface and AI event. However, the feature has faced criticism from online communities for security flaws and a lack of an opt-in system. Last week, the company announced several improvements to address the issue.

AI-powered recall is delayed

Adding an update to last week’s blog post about the improvements added to Recall, Microsoft said that instead of sending the feature directly to all users with a Copilot+ PC, it will now first appear in the Windows Insider Program (WIP) in the coming weeks. After public beta testing and incorporating feedback, the feature will be released to all Copilot+ computers in preview mode.

“We are adapting the release model for Recall to leverage the expertise of the Windows Insider community to ensure the experience meets our high standards of quality and security. This decision is rooted in our commitment to providing a reliable, secure, and robust experience for all users and seeking additional feedback before making this feature available to all Copilot+ PC users,” added Microsoft.

Notably, the Windows maker has addressed criticism of the feature and made several changes to the way the feature works. AI-powered recall is made entirely optional, with a screen that explicitly requires user consent before it activates. The feature is also integrated with the Windows Hello security feature, which requires either biometric authentication or a separate PIN code. In addition, the tech giant said the device will require “proof of presence” to view the timeline and search in recall.

Furthermore, a second layer of encryption is added to the feature’s search index database to protect against bad actors. However, it now seems that Microsoft wants to take more time to test the feature within the WIP community, before releasing it globally. According to a report by The Verge, the Recall feature was developed in secret and was not publicly tested before being announced at the Surface event. The company is probably correcting its mistakes with this move.