Microsoft Delays AI Recall Tool Launch Over Security Issues

Microsoft delays the release of the AI tool Recall because of privacy fears about monitoring users. The tool is now only available to people in the Windows Insiders Programme.

After receiving concerns about privacy and security, Microsoft announced in a blog post on Thursday that it will not include Recall, an AI tool that monitors user behaviour, with the Copilot+ PC when it comes out next week.

When the new computer comes out on June 18, the company wrote that Recall will change from a “broadly available” tool to a test feature that can only be accessed through the Windows Insiders Programme (WIP). Based on what they hear through WIP, Microsoft aims to add the AI feature to all Copilot+ PCs soon.

The Copilot+ PC was first shown off by Microsoft on May 20 as a computer that could run powerful AI programmes like Recall. The AI tool Recall regularly takes screenshots to keep track of what users are doing, so they can look for what they did before.

As soon as recall was announced, it caused a lot of trouble. Some people in the business world are worried that hackers might be able to make tools that can get user information like usernames and passwords.

Because of the negative reaction, Microsoft first said that the Recall feature would be disabled by default and users would have to choose to enable it. The company also added more security measures, such as an encrypted search database and the demand that all Recall users sign up for Windows Hello. This feature lets users show who they are by using a fingerprint, PIN, or their face.

As the field of AI changes quickly, Microsoft decided to put off Recall because of increased security worries. This month, a review board from the U.S. government criticised how the company dealt with China’s hacking of the email accounts of U.S. government leaders.