Microsoft is integrating AI features into two popular Windows apps, Paint and Notepad, as part of its strategy to embed AI across its ecosystem. These updates bring generative AI tools to improve user experience in creative and writing tasks. The new AI capabilities in these apps are currently available in preview for users in the Windows Insider Program, with a wider rollout expected in early 2025.
In Paint, the generative AI feature focuses on object removal, offering a tool called Generative Erase. This allows users to remove unwanted elements from images, such as people or objects and automatically fills the area with a matching background. For example, when testing the feature, a dog was erased from a photo, and the space was seamlessly filled with grass. The process is simple: users select the area to erase, and the AI handles the rest, blending the background in a realistic way.
Microsoft Previews AI-Powered Paint and Notepad Tools to Streamline Photo Editing and Text Rewrites
The feature works similarly to the existing Generative Erase in the Photos app but is now fully integrated within Paint. Users can select the area they wish to remove using various tools, including free-form or rectangular selection. Once the area is chosen, clicking “Apply” erases the object and automatically fills the background. Additional controls allow for fine-tuning the selection before finalizing the changes.
Notepad’s update introduces an AI-powered rewrite feature that enables users to rephrase text, adjust tone, or change its length. This functionality is available in version 11.2410.15.0, where users can highlight text and select “Rewrite” from the right-click menu. The AI then generates three alternative versions of the selected text, allowing users to pick the best one. There are also options to adjust the tone (formal, casual, persuasive, etc.), offering more control over the text’s style and message.
Though the AI features in Paint and Notepad have been well-received in early tests, Microsoft is still refining these integrations. As part of the Windows Insider Program, users can access these tools in preview, but they may experience some bugs or rough edges. Once fully rolled out, these AI-enhanced features will make tasks like photo editing and writing much more efficient and accessible for a wide range of users.
