Microsoft’s ongoing transformation of its foundational Windows utilities has taken a dramatic leap forward, with substantial updates to Paint, Notepad, and Snipping Tool now landing for Windows 11 Insiders. By infusing these classic applications with a surge of AI-powered functionality and design-forward improvements, Microsoft is aiming to bridge the gap between utilitarian tradition and the contemporary demand for smarter, more robust productivity tools. For millions who still rely on these “everyday” apps, the changes mark not just an incremental update, but a genuine reimagining of what small, bundled programs can achieve in the modern Windows ecosystem.
Paint, an application synonymous with basic image editing for decades, is now benefiting from a distinctly AI-centric facelift. At the forefront is the Sticker Generator—a feature exclusively available on the latest Copilot+ PCs and tightly integrated with Microsoft’s expanding Copilot ecosystem.
It’s worth noting, however, that this feature's limitation to Copilot+ PCs with Microsoft Account sign-in might be seen as a drawback. As Microsoft ties more advanced features to its premium hardware and cloud-connected services, some long-time Paint aficionados could feel left behind. Nevertheless, for those with access, the frictionless creation and reuse of AI-generated assets marks an exciting democratization of digital art and mock-up creation—a potential boon for educators, students, and content creators seeking efficiency without complexity.
While AI-driven object selection isn’t entirely novel in the broader image editing universe, its arrival in Paint signals a broader trend: Microsoft is intent on making everyday creativity broadly accessible. Now, everyday users no longer need costly subscriptions or steep learning curves to perform tasks that, until recently, fell squarely within the remit of professional software.
The value here extends to a breadth of users: teachers assembling visual aids, students capturing diagrams, professionals cataloging software bugs, or anyone needing a crisp capture for documentation. By automating the “precision” element, Microsoft is saving users untold minutes—and, for many, removing a point of frustration entirely.
By integrating powerful, developer-centric tools into what is ostensibly a basic utility, Microsoft is displaying a level of respect for “advanced casuals”—users with sophisticated needs, but little desire to bloat their workflow with additional installs.
It’s a bold play: taking Notepad from passive tool to active writing assistant. However, there are critical caveats worth considering. This capability is locked behind either a Copilot Pro subscription or a Microsoft 365 plan with AI credits—meaning casual, unaffiliated users are left with traditional functionality. In addition, those unwilling to have text processed by Microsoft’s cloud services have the option to turn this feature off, underscoring Microsoft’s ongoing tension between cloud-powered intelligence and local privacy.
This strategy may help retain professionals within the ecosystem and justify investments in Microsoft’s hardware initiatives. At the same time, it nudges users toward a vertically integrated experience—one where device, software, and cloud services are inseparable.
For enthusiasts, professionals, and even casual users, the next generation of Windows stock apps looks unmistakably smarter. Whether this intelligence comes at too high a cost—monetarily or in terms of user freedom—remains an open question, one worth watching as the era of “AI everywhere” becomes less futuristic and ever more routine.
Source: Neowin Microsoft rolls out big updates for Paint, Notepad, and Snipping Tool
The New Paint: Beyond Simple Sketches
Paint, an application synonymous with basic image editing for decades, is now benefiting from a distinctly AI-centric facelift. At the forefront is the Sticker Generator—a feature exclusively available on the latest Copilot+ PCs and tightly integrated with Microsoft’s expanding Copilot ecosystem.Sticker Generator: Creativity and Accessibility
The Sticker Generator represents a subtle yet profound shift in Paint’s identity. No longer is it merely a platform for freehand doodles or hastily cropped screenshots. Instead, users with a Copilot+ PC and a linked Microsoft Account can access the Sticker Generator via the Copilot menu, type a descriptive prompt of their desired imagery, and receive a series of AI-generated sticker designs. These stickers can be instantly deployed onto the canvas or saved for later re-use, making quick work of tasks that, only a few years ago, would have required several external tools or considerable drawing skill.It’s worth noting, however, that this feature's limitation to Copilot+ PCs with Microsoft Account sign-in might be seen as a drawback. As Microsoft ties more advanced features to its premium hardware and cloud-connected services, some long-time Paint aficionados could feel left behind. Nevertheless, for those with access, the frictionless creation and reuse of AI-generated assets marks an exciting democratization of digital art and mock-up creation—a potential boon for educators, students, and content creators seeking efficiency without complexity.
Object Select: The Next Level of Simplicity
The Object Select feature leverages artificial intelligence to identify, isolate, and select discrete objects within an image. This means, for example, that removing a foreground shape from a background, or isolating a product from cluttered visuals, now requires only a few clicks. It puts Paint well ahead of its historical home in the world of minimalistic bitmap editing, blurring the line between it and much heavier image editors.While AI-driven object selection isn’t entirely novel in the broader image editing universe, its arrival in Paint signals a broader trend: Microsoft is intent on making everyday creativity broadly accessible. Now, everyday users no longer need costly subscriptions or steep learning curves to perform tasks that, until recently, fell squarely within the remit of professional software.
A New Welcome Experience
Upon launching Paint’s latest version, users are greeted by an updated welcome screen that walks through recent changes and highlights useful features. This onboarding aids discovery—a subtle but essential step to ensuring new tools don’t remain overlooked. It’s a user experience detail echoing best practices within leading productivity suites, and it reinforces Microsoft’s ongoing push for “discoverability” within its software catalog.Snipping Tool’s Smart Evolution
The Snipping Tool, a favorite for capturing quick screenshots and performing basic annotations, has often lived in the shadow of more sophisticated screen capture solutions. The latest updates—now live in version 11.2504.38.0—demonstrate that Microsoft isn’t content to let this utility stagnate.Perfect Screenshot: Precision with AI
“Perfect Screenshot” introduces artificial intelligence to the previously manual world of screenshot cropping and region selection. By automatically detecting shapes, objects, and user-intended regions, this feature lets users snap their selection precisely to the edges of graphical elements—reducing time spent fiddling with pixel-perfect cropping and minimizing errors.The value here extends to a breadth of users: teachers assembling visual aids, students capturing diagrams, professionals cataloging software bugs, or anyone needing a crisp capture for documentation. By automating the “precision” element, Microsoft is saving users untold minutes—and, for many, removing a point of frustration entirely.
Color Picker: A Power Tool in Disguise
Rounding out the Snipping Tool’s update is the addition of a fully-fledged color picker. Users can now select any point within a screenshot and instantly grab color values in HEX, RGB, or HSL formats. This enhancement caters not only to designers and web developers—audiences who often found themselves resorting to third-party tools—but also to casual users aiming to match colors across projects or create custom palettes.By integrating powerful, developer-centric tools into what is ostensibly a basic utility, Microsoft is displaying a level of respect for “advanced casuals”—users with sophisticated needs, but little desire to bloat their workflow with additional installs.
Notepad: From Simplicity to Smartness
Long celebrated for its minimal design and utility as a scratchpad, Notepad has, over the years, maintained almost monastic simplicity. Its newest update, version 11.2504.46.0, pivots in a markedly different direction: AI-enhanced content generation and editing, directly within the familiar Notepad interface.Text Generation: An Editor with Brains
The text generation feature, toggled by selecting text and pressing Ctrl + Q, allows users to describe in natural language the kind of change or rewriting they desire. Imagine selecting a paragraph and typing, “Make this more formal,” or “Summarize this for a headline.” The AI, leveraging Microsoft’s proprietary models, instantly produces a rewritten or refined version, inserting it back into the document.It’s a bold play: taking Notepad from passive tool to active writing assistant. However, there are critical caveats worth considering. This capability is locked behind either a Copilot Pro subscription or a Microsoft 365 plan with AI credits—meaning casual, unaffiliated users are left with traditional functionality. In addition, those unwilling to have text processed by Microsoft’s cloud services have the option to turn this feature off, underscoring Microsoft’s ongoing tension between cloud-powered intelligence and local privacy.
Privacy and Access Considerations
Microsoft’s move to require signed-in accounts and premium subscriptions for the most advanced features has caused some friction in user forums. For professionals already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem, these requirements may not be a barrier; for hobbyists and privacy-conscious users, however, this could accelerate the search for alternative, open-source tools with fewer restrictions.Critical Analysis: Pros, Cons, and Lingering Questions
While these updates are generally well-received and showcase impressive leaps in everyday utility, they also raise significant questions—a microcosm of the larger debate surrounding AI in consumer software.Notable Strengths
- Accessibility and Ease-of-Use: AI democratizes tasks formerly reserved for specialists, empowering a wider range of users.
- Productivity Gains: Time-saving features, particularly in object selection and screenshot refinement, directly boost efficiency.
- Integrated Power: Advanced tools (like color pickers and text rewriting) within default apps eliminate the need for third-party installs, reducing user friction and security concerns.
- Continuous Discovery: User-friendly onboarding steps and welcome screens facilitate learning and engagement with new capabilities.
Potential Risks and Concerns
- Feature Gating and Hardware Lock-In: Restricting major features to Copilot+ PCs and premium account holders amplifies digital divides within the Windows user base.
- Cloud Dependency and Privacy: Most AI-powered features require cloud connectivity and Microsoft Accounts, potentially raising flags for privacy-conscious users. Although opt-outs and settings exist, transparency, data retention, and local-processing options remain pressing concerns.
- Subscription Creep: The slow but steady migration of everyday features behind paywalls or subscriptions may undermine the accessibility ethos that traditionally defined Windows.
- Unintended Consequences of AI: Automated, AI-driven features will inevitably yield false positives or unexpected results. How well these models perform across different languages, cultures, and contexts remains to be fully seen and independently validated.
Industry Context and Competitive Pressure
These updates are partly a response to competitive pressures. Apple’s continuity across devices, Google’s AI-powered Docs, and a bevy of nimble third-party tools have heightened user expectations. Microsoft’s bundling of high-end features with everyday apps is both a defensive move and a proclamation: Windows is not just standing still, but evolving in real time.This strategy may help retain professionals within the ecosystem and justify investments in Microsoft’s hardware initiatives. At the same time, it nudges users toward a vertically integrated experience—one where device, software, and cloud services are inseparable.
The Broader AI Roadmap for Windows
These releases are best seen in the context of Microsoft’s broader Copilot push and AI-first strategy. By steadily introducing generative and assistive AI at the OS and app level, Microsoft aims to make AI an unremarkable, everyday expectation. While the vision is compelling, the execution will be judged by real-world impacts on productivity, privacy, and inclusion.Final Thoughts: Progress with Caution
The latest Paint, Notepad, and Snipping Tool updates underscore Microsoft’s resolve to imbue even its most venerable utilities with the advantages—and challenges—of AI-first design. There is much to celebrate in the increased accessibility, productivity, and fun these changes bring. At the same time, users and policy makers should remain vigilant about evolving risks: feature gating, data privacy, and the long-term costs of subscription-driven ecosystems.For enthusiasts, professionals, and even casual users, the next generation of Windows stock apps looks unmistakably smarter. Whether this intelligence comes at too high a cost—monetarily or in terms of user freedom—remains an open question, one worth watching as the era of “AI everywhere” becomes less futuristic and ever more routine.
Source: Neowin Microsoft rolls out big updates for Paint, Notepad, and Snipping Tool
