Leaked code hints at ‘Cowriter’ AI coming to Windows Notepad soon

Microsoft looks ready to transform Notepad into an AI writing workspace, according to new code discoveries.

Remember when Notepad was a basic text editor? Those days may be gone soon. (Express image)

Microsoft’s “year of the AI PC” is already delivering, with early signs that a new generative AI tool is coming soon to Notepad, the text editing app included in every version of Windows.

Eagle-eyed testers of early Windows 11 builds have spotted references to a new “Cowriter” feature, which appears to leverage AI similarly to the AI image generation tools already rolled out in Paint and other apps. The same credits system used in Paint is referenced, hinting that Cowriter may start as a free preview before requiring purchase of credits.

Other references found point to a waitlist for access and marketing images showing the Cowriter icon in Notepad’s toolbar, matching the style used for Copilot in Office apps.

Cowriter https://t.co/bokzaqRPzJ pic.twitter.com/m5Q6saOt1s

— Tero Alhonen💙💛 (@teroalhonen) January 9, 2024

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Microsoft has not officially announced Cowriter, but these clues suggest it could be close to a public preview. The technique mirrors how the company tested the AI image feature in Paint for months before full rollout.

It wasn’t long ago that Notepad was a decades-old utility untouched by modernization. But Microsoft has been updating it for Windows 11 with long-requested features like dark mode, tabs, autosave and more.

Cowriter would take Notepad into new territory as an AI-powered writing assistant. It has the potential to bring enhanced productivity to everyday text wrangling, though some may be concerned about over-reliance on AI tools for writing original content.