Microsoft is testing a feature for Copilot Voice that will allow Windows 11 users to start a conversation with the app by saying “Hey, Copilot!” Windows insiders who have the updated version of the program can try it out by signing up and activating the feature.
Similar commands have been available for many years in Siri, Google, Alexa, and even the late Cortana, which was replaced by Copilot. But this is a new addition for Copilot if a dedicated key or keyboard shortcut didn’t allow you to log into the app easily enough, and comes after the launch of the more conversational Copilot Voice interface.
According to the blog post, you’ll need to enable this feature so that it can respond to the word “alarm”. Also, the update isn’t available to all insiders right away, but it’s being rolled out to testers around the world who have English as their language setting. To find out if you have it, check your Copilot: 1.25051.10.0 or higher.
Once activated, you’ll see the Copilot microphone interface floating at the bottom of the screen and receive a notification in the form of a beep to indicate that it’s listening to you.
The FAQ also states that it uses the device’s built-in wake-up word spotter with a 10-second audio buffer, and does not send clips to the cloud or store them locally. It can recognize the wake-up word even if you’re offline, but in order for the Copilot Voice feature to do anything, you need internet access so it can access the cloud processing capabilities.
