Microsoft is launching a new feature called "Recall" for certain Windows 11 PCs. The feature, part of Microsoft's new "Copilot+ PCs" line, utilizes AI technology to create a detailed log of user activities, including capturing screenshots of the user's screen during interactions. The purpose is to act as a form of photographic memory for the computer user, helping them find information they may have forgotten by recording user interactions.
This Recall feature allows users to navigate a visual timeline to retrieve content from various sources viewed in the past. In addition, it employs object recognition to suggest actions based on recognized objects in the user's previous content. Users have control over privacy settings, such as deleting individual snapshots, adjusting time periods, pausing the recording, or excluding specific applications or websites from being indexed.
The functionality of Recall bears resemblance to technology portrayed in the TV series Black Mirror, particularly the episode "The Entire History of You." Entrepreneur Elon Musk commented on the similarity to the show's fictional concept in a post on his social media platform X, expressing hesitance towards the feature.
There have been concerns raised about Microsoft's Recall feature, particularly regarding the use of generative AI and potential privacy issues. Users fear that their personal data could be processed by Microsoft's AI models without their consent.
The European Union has taken notice of Microsoft's AI technologies, with a possibility of significant fines if responses to inquiries about Bing and related generative AI services are not provided. David Brin, a sci-fi author, has suggested a strategy of directing AIs against each other to prevent potential AI-related threats.
