Microsoft Photos to get new “super resolution” AI feature

Microsoft Photos unveils AI-powered enhancements: Microsoft is rolling out significant upgrades to its Photos application, incorporating advanced AI capabilities and user-friendly features for Windows Insiders.

Super resolution feature introduction: Microsoft Photos is introducing a new “super resolution” feature that leverages artificial intelligence to improve and enlarge low-quality images.

• The feature is designed to work on Copilot Plus PCs, indicating a focus on higher-end devices with AI capabilities.
• This enhancement allows users to potentially salvage or improve photos that were previously considered too low in quality for practical use.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) integration: In addition to image enhancement, Microsoft Photos is adding OCR functionality to streamline text extraction from images.

• This feature can be particularly useful for digitizing text from scanned documents, screenshots, or photos containing written information.
• OCR technology can significantly reduce the time and effort required to transcribe text manually from images.

User interface improvements: Microsoft is also focusing on enhancing the user experience with a new single-click navigation option.

• This change eliminates the need for double-clicking to open images, potentially making the app more intuitive and faster to use.
• The single-click feature aligns with modern user interface design principles that prioritize efficiency and ease of use.

Availability and rollout: These new features are currently being made available to Windows Insiders, suggesting a phased approach to the rollout.

• Windows Insiders typically get early access to new features for testing purposes before they are released to the general public.
• This approach allows Microsoft to gather feedback and address any potential issues before a wider release.

Implications for photo editing and management: The introduction of these AI-powered features in Microsoft Photos reflects a broader trend in consumer software towards integrating advanced technologies into everyday applications.

• The super resolution feature, in particular, could impact how users approach photo editing and storage, potentially reducing the need for high-resolution original images in some cases.
• These updates position Microsoft Photos as a more competitive option in the photo management and editing space, potentially challenging standalone photo editing applications.