Windows keyboard will change for the first time in 30 years – the Copilot key will appear
Microsoft wants 2024 to be the “year of the AI computer,” and it’s kicking it off with a major change to the keyboard. A variety of new PCs and laptops from Microsoft partners will feature a new Copilot key that will provide quick access to Windows Copilot AI capabilities.
The Copilot key is the first major change to the Windows PC keyboard layout in nearly three decades.
“Nearly 30 years ago, we introduced the Windows key to the PC keyboard, enabling people around the world to interact with Windows. We see this as another transformational moment in our Windows journey, where Copilot will be the entry point to the world of artificial intelligence on the PC.” – said Yusuf Mehdi, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Microsoft.
The new Copilot key replaces the menu key (application key) that was introduced with the Windows key several decades ago. On most keyboards, it will be located next to the right Alt key, and its location will vary by manufacturer and market. The Copilot key simply launches Windows Copilot, which is built into Windows 11, offering a chatbot like ChatGPT that can answer queries or even perform actions in Windows.
If Windows Copilot is not yet available, the Copilot key will launch Windows Search instead. While the current Windows key can open the Start menu or be combined with other keys to quickly access Windows features and functions, the Copilot key is still just a startup key. It is not known whether the corporation plans to allow the use of the new key in combination with other keys in the future.
Microsoft has not announced which OEMs will add the Copilot key. Rumor has it that Microsoft will release new Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 models in the spring, which may be the first.
