Microsoft is set to launch its new Copilot Plus PC next week, but it won’t have the controversial Recall feature that takes screenshots of everything you do on the new laptop. The company initially promised that it would ship with the added security enhancements as an opt-in feature, but is now withholding Recall so it can be tested by the Windows Insider program.
“We will leverage the expertise of the Windows Insider community to adjust our release model for Recall to ensure that the experience meets our high standards for quality and security,” Microsoft said in the announcement. Updated the blog post“Once Recall (Preview) is available to the Windows Insider Program, we will publish a blog post with details on how to get the preview.”
This means that Recall will not initially be available to Windows Insiders or those who purchase Copilot Plus PCs. Earlier today, I wrote in my notes that Windows engineers are rushing to test and implement security improvements in time for the launch of Copilot Plus PCs on June 18. Microsoft is essentially admitting here that they need more time to test the security improvements in Recall.
Microsoft first announced the Recall feature last month as part of its upcoming Copilot Plus PC, but since then, privacy advocates and security experts have warned that Recall could be a “catastrophe” for cybersecurity if not changed. Last week, Microsoft promised three major updates to Recall, including making the AI-powered feature an opt-in experience rather than on by default, encrypting the database, and authenticating with Windows Hello.
Recall uses local AI models built into Windows 11 to take screenshots of almost everything you see or do on your computer and gives you the ability to search and retrieve what you saw. An explorable timeline lets you scroll through these snapshots to revisit what you did on your PC on any given day. All Recall data is designed to stay local and private on your device, so your data is not used to train Microsoft’s AI models.
Microsoft’s decision to postpone the recall came shortly after the resignation of its vice chairman and president, Brad Smith. testified It will be heard today by the House Homeland Security Committee. Smith says Microsoft is prioritizing security as part of its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), “even more so than the company’s artificial intelligence efforts,” Smith says.
Smith also revealed that Microsoft will make security a mandatory part of its semi-annual employee evaluation process for all employees. “With this change, cybersecurity will be factored into all employees’ annual bonuses and compensation,” Smith said.
We reported earlier in Notepad that Recall was originally created before Microsoft’s larger SFI overhaul began. Recall was developed behind closed doors at Microsoft and was not publicly tested by Windows Insiders. Microsoft has since identified security issues with Recall and has begun developing and testing changes to the experience in recent months. These changes clearly need more time to deliver on their promise to prioritize security over AI and everything else.