According to TheRegister.com, Microsoft is testing a major change to Windows 11 that replaces the traditional search box with an “Ask Copilot anything” interface in the latest Insider Dev and Beta builds starting with version 26220.7051. The feature is currently off by default and requires users to jump through multiple hoops including joining the Windows Insider Program and using the third-party ViveTool utility to enable it. When activated, the search box displays “Ask Copilot anything” with both a glasses icon for screen sharing and a microphone for voice commands. The interface presents a mix of traditional search results and AI prompts, though early testing shows inconsistent performance where Copilot sometimes fails to find files that regular search locates. The results appear in a floating dialog that can be particularly disruptive for users who keep their taskbar aligned to the left. Even with this enabled, searching from within the Start menu still provides the traditional search experience.
Microsoft‘s relentless AI push
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just another feature test. It’s part of Microsoft’s aggressive strategy to cram Copilot into every corner of Windows. They’re basically betting the farm on AI integration, and the search box is prime real estate. I mean, think about how often you use that search box versus how often you actually open the Copilot sidebar. They want that AI assistant front and center.
But is this actually helpful? The testing shows some real issues. When searching for “winver,” regular search found the file but Copilot didn’t. That’s a basic system utility that should be easy to locate. And the floating results window that appears in the middle of the screen? That feels like a step backward in user experience design. It’s disruptive and breaks the flow of how people actually use their computers.
The enablement hassle
Now, getting this feature working isn’t exactly straightforward. You need to be on specific Insider builds, then download ViveTool to enable hidden features, unzip it to a specific folder, run command prompts as administrator, and reboot. That’s a lot of hoops for what essentially becomes another way to access the same Copilot experience that already exists in Windows. It makes you wonder – if this feature were genuinely useful, wouldn’t Microsoft make it easier to try?
The bigger picture
Microsoft is clearly feeling the pressure from Google’s AI integrations and Apple’s upcoming AI features. They want to position Windows as the AI-powered operating system. But there‘s a fine line between helpful integration and forced adoption. The Register’s testing found that Copilot Vision couldn’t even count desktop icons correctly – it said 9 when there were actually 22. That’s the kind of basic failure that makes you question whether this technology is ready for prime time.
So where does this leave users? For now, it’s optional. But given Microsoft’s track record with pushing features like this, I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes the default search experience eventually. The question is whether blending search and AI actually improves productivity or just creates more friction. Based on early testing, I’m leaning toward the latter.
