Following the launch of Copilot Pro in January, Microsoft will start rolling out a slew of upgrades today to make its AI assistant more useful in Windows 11. The biggest addition is support for plugins, something that only worked with Copilot on the web previously. You could, for example, connect Copilot to OpenTable so you can make a reservation from within its chat window. If you're low on groceries, you could start an order using the Instacart plugin. Microsoft says that plugins from Kayak, Klarna and Shopify will also be arriving over the next month.

Microsoft is injecting a ton of generative AI-powered features into Windows 11, but it's not all about the Copilot assistant. The company has started to update a string of apps with new AI functions, including Paint, Clipchamp, Snipping Tool and Photos. Microsoft released an update for Windows 11 2023, known as 23H2, on October 31. That update expanded access to Copilot and other AI features. Microsoft is rolling out the AI updates gradually, so you may not have access to everything just yet.

In some categories of computer software, there are scant free options and spending a few bucks on paid software makes a big difference. In other categories, paying for software is not necessary. Video editing is one such example. In fact, one program widely used in Hollywood is free, and there are several other decent programs for Windows users--including the utterly fantastic DaVinci Resolve. Windows even has a built-in program now that Microsoft is the owner of the simple video editor Clipchamp.

There's something quietly happening to Windows apps and services: They're being assimilated into existing Microsoft subscriptions, adding value but also introducing a paid tier of content into Windows apps that have traditionally been entirely free. Clicking through Microsoft's Clipchamp video editor this week, I discovered that its ongoing pricing odyssey has evolved, again: if you've previously signed up for Microsoft 365 and have logged in, you'll receive hidden additional benefits that aren't available to other users. Microsoft also has merged its Solitaire subscription (yes, a Solitaire subscription) into Xbox Game Pass, as well. Clipchamp's updated pricing structure is indicative of how Microsoft has struggled to integrate what was once a standalone subscription premium video editing solution, but under Microsoft is just part of its Windows app suite. Last March, Clipchamp updated its pricing model to include a free tier that was actually usable, but left in place three other pricing tiers that soared up to $39 per month.

The upcoming Microsoft Designer is a visual art design tool that you simply must try for yourself. It's simply one of the best consumer apps Microsoft has ever made, following in the footsteps of Clipchamp. In Designer, you can combine apparently unlimited amounts of AI art with intelligently suggested templates that can generate finished projects in just seconds. Microsoft announced Microsoft Designer in October, and it's currently locked to a small group of testers in preview mode. PCWorld obtained access via preview codes shared on Twitter, and that's the way Microsoft is slowly adding users--after you download your first creation, you'll be given a code for three additional Designer licenses that you can share with whomever you'd like.