Microsoft tests “Hey, Copilot!” voice activation in Windows

Microsoft is expanding voice control capabilities in Windows 11 with a new wake word feature that allows users to activate Copilot through voice commands alone. This update represents Microsoft’s latest effort to fully integrate its AI assistant into the Windows experience, following in the footsteps of voice-activated assistants from Apple, Google, and Amazon while building upon capabilities previously offered by Microsoft’s discontinued Cortana assistant.

The big picture: Microsoft is adding a “Hey Copilot!” wake word feature to Windows 11, allowing users to activate the AI assistant hands-free.

• The update is currently rolling out to Windows Insiders worldwide who have English set as their display language.
• This feature follows Microsoft’s recent launch of a more conversational Copilot Voice experience, showing the company’s commitment to voice as a primary interface for AI interaction.

How it works: Users must explicitly opt in and activate the feature before the assistant will respond to voice commands.

• Once activated, saying “Hey Copilot!” triggers a floating microphone UI at the bottom of the screen along with a chime notification indicating the system is listening.
• The wake word detection uses on-device processing with a 10-second audio buffer and doesn’t send clips to the cloud or save them locally.

Technical requirements: The feature requires specific software versions and online connectivity for full functionality.

• Windows Insiders can check if they have access by verifying their Copilot app is version 1.25051.10.0 or higher.
• While the wake word can be recognized offline, an internet connection is necessary for Copilot Voice to perform tasks since it relies on cloud processing capabilities.

Context: Voice activation has become a standard feature across major digital assistants.

• Similar wake word functionality has been available for years with competitors like Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon’s Alexa.
• This addition brings Copilot’s capabilities closer to those of Cortana, Microsoft’s previous voice assistant that Copilot has now replaced in the Windows ecosystem.