Microsoft has announced that Copilot will gain direct permission to access local files and execute actions across the Windows operating system. This update, demonstrated at the recent Windows and Surface event, marks a shift from a purely cloud-based assistant to a system capable of managing on-device data. The company describes this approach as Hybrid Intelligence, combining local processing with cloud models to handle tasks like filing taxes or responding to emails without sending sensitive information to external servers. Jacob Andreou, Microsoft’s executive vice president of Copilot, showcased the feature by instructing an AI agent to locate documents and coordinate responses based on incoming mail from an accountant.
The practical impact lies in reducing latency and protecting user privacy during complex workflows. By processing data locally where possible, the system avoids the delay of uploading large files to the cloud for analysis. This architecture also means personal documents remain on the hard drive rather than being copied to remote storage. The change represents a structural update to how Windows handles AI integration, moving beyond simple search queries to active task management.
* Local processing reduces upload times for large files.
* Sensitive documents do not leave the user’s device.
* The system can execute multi-step actions across the OS.
