Microsoft announced it will add a new Copilot key to PC keyboards, marking the first major change to the standard Windows keyboard layout in nearly 30 years. The move signals Microsoft’s ambitions to make 2024 “the year of the AI PC.”

In a blog post published today, Microsoft executive Yusuf Mehdi stated that keyboards on all upcoming Windows 11 PCs will feature the new key specifically for invoking the Copilot AI assistant experience. Mehdi called it “another transformative moment in our journey with Windows where Copilot will be the entry point into the world of AI on the PC.”

The Copilot key will provide quick access to the AI model’s various features like answering questions, drafting text, and adjusting settings hands-free.

Bringing AI Front and Center

The prominent new key placement highlights Microsoft’s push over the past year to integrate AI capabilities throughout its hardware, software, and services.

After unveiling Copilot for the Bing search engine in February 2022, Microsoft has kept expanding the reach and capabilities of its ChatGPT-style assistant. Copilot is now available across Microsoft 365 apps, Windows 11, the Edge browser, and more.

The dedicated keyboard button further elevates Copilot’s visibility and convenience. In his post, Mehdi stated that “we will be ushering in a significant shift toward a more personal and intelligent computing future where AI will be seamlessly woven into Windows.”

Replacing Menu or Control Keys

On larger standard keyboard layouts, the Windows-branded Copilot key will likely replace less frequently used keys like the Menu key. However, specific placement may vary across different devices and regions, even replacing more important keys like the right “Control” key, especially on laptops with smaller keyboards.

Microsoft (MSFT) noted that the Copilot key may co-exist alongside the right Control key on some larger keyboard designs. The Windows key will remain untouched.

Mehdi confirmed that leading computer makers will unveil Windows 11 PCs featuring Copilot keys at the January CES 2023 conference in Las Vegas. The first AI-capable keywords are expected to hit the markets in late February and continue to rise in popularity throughout the spring season.

However, Microsoft indicated that the key’s inclusion is not yet mandatory. However, consumers should expect that it will become standard over time across major OEM devices.

Copilot Key Coming to Surface Devices in the Spring

Microsoft specifically named its own Surface product line as one of those displaying the brand-new keyboard layout featuring the Copilot key. Surface Pro and laptop models typically see spring refreshes, likely putting them on the first wave of devices with dedicated Copilot keys.

Other major PC partners like HP, Dell, and Lenovo will also introduce Copilot keys on select models this year. Most will showcase their updated devices next week at CES.

Microsoft Deems 2024 “Year of the AI PC”

The new keyboard layout ties closely into Microsoft’s designation of 2024 as “the year of the AI PC” and signifies Microsoft’s massive investment in the AI industry.

Improved integration across Windows software and services sits alongside accelerated AI hardware advancements from chipmakers like AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm. Collectively, these shifts aim to make AI experiences feel seamless while increasing platform capabilities.

The introduction of a prominent new functional key also suggests the potential for expanded Copilot integration directly into Windows controls and menus. Such a change is expected to transform user expectations and cement a new era of AI assistance on the PC.

Also read: Intel Launches Breakthrough New AI Chips Set to Boost Industry Growth

Copilot Mobile Apps Now Available on iOS and Android

Microsoft’s keyboard announcement coincided with the quiet launch of dedicated Copilot mobile apps over the holidays. Now available on both iOS and Android devices, the apps provide mobile access to Copilot’s AI chat plus DALL-E image creation without the need to access the Bing search app.

The releases garnered over 1.5 million downloads in the first week on the Google Play Store, underscoring users’ strong interest in Microsoft’s evolving AI offerings. The apps also provide free access to OpenAI’s upgraded GPT-4 model, which currently requires a paid subscription through OpenAI.

Between the new mobile availability, upcoming hardware button, and Mehdi’s guarantee of a “more intelligent computing future”, Microsoft leaves no doubt that Copilot sits squarely at the center of its AI vision.

With further Windows integration expected, the Copilot key may soon become as ubiquitous for launching AI assistance as the Windows key is today for accessing the Start menu.