Windows users have been relying on the start button for varied applications but Microsoft wants to give it an AI twist.

Windows PCs May No Longer Feature the Start Button

Adriana MaraisOctober 27, 23 Qualcomm, Windows 11

Microsoft is building the Start button into a new avatar for Windows PCs, and it’s called Copilot. Well, that’s what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said while talking about the rumored version of Windows 12 that is expected to be released in the near future.

The Windows Start button has been a permanent fixture, but since the company’s refocus on AI is well-documented, it may be looking at revamping the button’s AI, which Nadella suggested during a recent event.

Nadella even pointed out that Copilot can be an orchestra of all applications, allowing people to navigate the computer through different applications. While he doesn’t directly confirm the removal of the Start button from Windows 12, his statement shows how artificial intelligence has taken center stage for Nadella and Co.

Their ambitions are supported by a growing emphasis on AI-enabled hardware from the likes of Qualcomm and Intel, giving them an arsenal to make headway in this segment.

Replacing the Home button isn’t easy, and some might say that in an ideal world, Copilot and the button could co-exist, allowing users to decide how they want to use their Windows PC. Microsoft believes that AI can be a path to further innovation in the PC industry, which is possible with the introduction of the next generation of AI computers.

This is similar to Google or other companies providing a shortcut to activate Google Assistant, but giving users the choice and freedom to use or ignore them on their device. No one can say how the AI PC market will mature, and it remains to be seen whether the ideal harmony of hardware and software could give AI the perfect chance to shine and make people’s lives easier.

Microsoft has a head start with OpenAI, but it also needs the likes of Intel and Qualcomm to provide them with the right platform to get the most out of these AI applications, such as Copilot, which looks to replace the start button of the future, which could be as early as next year when AI computers hit the market.