Microsoft is testing a new hands-free voice activation feature for Copilot on Windows 11. This feature will allow users to say “Hey Copilot” to interact with AI assistant. The Copilot Wake Word feature is currently in beta test and is being rolled out to select users who are part of Microsoft’s Windows Insider program.

In his official blog post, Microsoft revealed that the upcoming updates would start talking to Copilot in such a way how other voice assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa work. While Voice Command is not new to Tech Space, this is the first time Microsoft’s AI Copilot is getting Wake Word. Earlier, Microsoft offered a similar feature for its now-disconnected virtual assistant, Cortana.

How to use “O Copilot” feature

The Copilot Wake Word feature is currently subject to testing. Once available, to try the new voice feature, users will need to manually choose and enable the word “O Copilot” wake in the settings of the first Copilot app. Once active is active, your PC will listen to the wake phrase until it is unlocked. On detection of the command, a floating microphone will appear in the bottom of the UI screen, as well as listening actively with a chime to indicate Copilot.

Once active, the user “Hey can ask Copilot anything, how is the weather in Palm Springs later this week?” For more complex questions or productivity functions. After a few seconds of inactivity or when the user taps ‘X’ on floating UI, the interaction with a audible confirmation will end automatically.

Wake Word functionality will also work offline, although the core AI will still require an internet connection to process Copilot for running core AI to run in Cloud.

Microsoft states that its upcoming-free interaction is built around an on-device word detection system that processes the voice input locally. The company emphasizes that the facility will consider the user privacy, stating that the assistant uses a 10-second audio buffer that neither stores the voice data locally nor uploads it to the cloud.

Hey Kopilot Facility Availability

The voice-competent version of the Copilot is available to examiners with an app version of 1.25051.10.0 or higher, and whose system is set in English. Microsoft says that the rollout is gradual, so not all the eligible users will see the updates immediately. An official rollout is expected in the coming weeks or months, as the company successfully completes beta tests.

Meanwhile, for now, users eager to test this feature may join the Windows Insider program.