Microsoft recalls Windows 11's Recall AI PC feature yet again and it now won't even be released for testing until December

SoftwareOperating SystemsWindowsMicrosoft recalls Windows 11’s Recall AI PC feature yet again and it now won’t even be released for testing until DecemberWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

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Back in June if you, er, recall, Microsoftdecided not to roll outthe controversial Recall feature for Copilot AI PCs that screenshots everything you do. Now Microsoft has delayed Recall again, appealing for time to “refine” the feature.

Indeed, after Recall was delayed in June, the plan was to roll it out for testing for Windows Insiders members within a few weeks. That plan was then punted out to October. But even that limited aspiration has now been canned and it seems Microsoft isn’t confident enough to release Recall merely as a beta feature for testing.

Lest you have forgotten, Recall uses AI algorithms running locally on a PC to screenshot everything you do on your computer, creating an timeline you can scroll through and search.

However, security researchers discovered that the Recall database which stores all those screenshots wasn’t encrypted, opening up a massive security chasm. After all, if Recall captures nearly everything you do, that can easily include private correspondence, banking details, the works.

Along with addressing that basic security concern and several others, Microsoft is also making Recall an opt-in feature as opposed to default and enabling Copilot PC users to completely uninstall it.

Recall screenshots everything you do. What could possibly go wrong?(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Recall

The Recall database is now fully encrypted, which is welcome even if it’s hard to believe that wasn’t the case from the get go, and access to Recall is now only possible through Windows Hello authentication.

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Whether Microsoft will hit even the modest December testing deadline remains to be seen. As for the question of when Recall might be implemented as an official feature for Windows 11 Copilot PCs is anyone’s guess. It’s good that Microsoft now seems to be taking a cautious approach.

But the whole debacle only serves to reinforce the broader impression of an AI industry that’s chucking everything against the wall, hoping something sticks and isn’t worrying too much about the consequences in the meantime.

Windows 11 review: What we think of the latest OS.How to install Windows 11: Guide to a secure install.Windows 11 TPM requirement: Strict OS security.

Windows 11 reviewHow to install Windows 11Windows 11 TPM requirement

Windows 11 review: What we think of the latest OS.How to install Windows 11: Guide to a secure install.Windows 11 TPM requirement: Strict OS security.

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