Microsoft is introducing a new AI Copilot key on keyboards

Standard computer keyboards that we’re used to have, at least those designed for Windows computers, have remained unchanged for a long time. The last “major” addition to these keyboards came with the introduction of Windows 95 when Microsoft started (and others followed) the practice of adding a dedicated key with the Windows logo. This key is usually located between the Alt and Ctrl keys, to the left of the space bar. It is used to open the Start menu and execute various keyboard shortcuts within Microsoft’s operating system.

Thanks to Microsoft, a new change appears to be coming on the standard keyboards. Thirty years after the introduction of the Windows key, Microsoft wants to introduce a new key dedicated to its new AI system, Copilot. This move aligns with many other updates from the Redmond giant over the past year which include Copilot integration with Bing, Office, and Windows itself.

According to Microsoft, the Copilot key will mark the first significant change on computer keyboards in the past three decades. It will make it easier for everyone to participate in the process named “AI transformation.” Once you press this key, it will launch Copilot, where you can access all its features, such as chat, image generation, various tasks related to images and text, and likely much more in the future.

In collaboration with Microsoft partners, the first keyboards with the dedicated Copilot key will be introduced at CES in Las Vegas. The first computers featuring the new key will be from the Surface lineup, as well as some from other manufacturers, available for purchase from February 2024.

Luckily, the Copilot key will not replace the Windows key. It will be located to the right of the space bar and the right Alt key – where some keyboards have a key that simulates the right mouse click. According to Microsoft, this event marks the beginning of the “AI PC era.”