Microsoft is planning to launch new Copilot+ PCs in the coming week. Although the launch was inevitable, the company has said that the most controversial feature recall has been averted. According to the statement, the company is pausing the feature to test it with the Windows Insider Program to add additional security fixes.

Microsoft said in their blog that they are adjusting the release model for recall to leverage the expertise of the Windows Insider community to ensure the experience meets our high standards for quality and security. They also said that they will notify you when the feature is available and ready to work.

Earlier, the recall feature was promised to be implemented in upcoming devices with a launch on June 18, 2024. But now Microsoft is essentially admitting here that it needs more time to test the recall’s security fixes.

What is the recall feature?

The purpose of the recall feature is to track every file, document, website viewed on the laptop. This feature enables the AI ​​assistant to access everything the user has seen and done on the screen. Microsoft explains it as if the AI ​​assistant has a photographic memory to record everything you have done so far.

During the launch, Microsoft noted that the feature would only be supported by Copilot+ PCs and not the current Windows 11.

Minimum storage requirements to use Recall, as stated in the feature’s FAQ page: “The minimum hard drive space required to run Recall is 256 GB, and 50 GB of space must be available. The default allocation for Recall on a 256 GB device will be 25 GB, which can store approximately 3 months of snapshots. You can increase the storage allocation for Recall in your PC settings. Once you use the allocated storage, older snapshots will be deleted, allowing new snapshots to be stored.”

Recall feature: A question of safety

With the AI ​​power of this feature, the question of security was much anticipated. Due to this very question, Microsoft’s recall feature has been promoted everywhere. Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk is known for criticizing his competitors, he called this feature an episode of Black Mirror. But Microsoft must have also considered it. Microsoft promises to protect users’ privacy by giving them the option to filter what they do not want to be tracked.

Regarding users’ privacy, Microsoft claims that the Recall index remains local and private on the device. The user can pause, stop, or delete the captured content or choose to exclude specific apps or websites. Microsoft said that the feature will not take snapshots of InPrivate web browsing sessions in Microsoft Edge and DRM-protected content. However, Recall does not perform “content moderation” and will not actively hide sensitive information such as passwords and financial account numbers.

Even with all the importance placed on privacy, we feel the recall feature still needs refinement. This delay could be a sign that recall could pose a threat to users’ security. But that could just be in our minds.