For years, we have been capable of freely use all of the options in Home windows apps like Notepad and Paint. However these days appear to be gone. Sure, the core options are nonetheless freely accessible, however the newest AI abilities? Not a lot.
A Home windows discussion board submit printed Thursday described the ways in which Microsoft has added AI to Notepad and Paint in Home windows 11. In Notepad, you possibly can request a rewrite of the textual content and even specify whether or not you need it shorter, longer, extra formal, extra informal, or extra humorous. In Paint, you are capable of generate photos with the AI-powered Picture Creator and tweak the background.
There is a worth to AI, each for Microsoft and its customers
The corporate must pay for its ongoing analysis and work on AI, because the discussion board submit factors out. It desires to encourage folks to subscribe to Microsoft 365 and different apps by including AI. And the freemium mannequin has been increasing past the cell panorama into desktop software program.
For Microsoft, passing the price alongside to the patron is the plain strategy to tackle all these targets. That is why the corporate has basically positioned the AI abilities for in any other case free Home windows apps behind a subscription paywall.
So how does this play out?
Once more, you should use all the non-AI options of Notepad and Paint without spending a dime, simply as at all times. However attempt to request a rewrite in Notepad or a picture in Paint, and you will be informed that you simply want a subscription to Microsoft 365.
How a lot it prices to make use of Copilot AI with Notepad or Paint
With the elevated worth tags because of the inclusion of Copilot AI, you may need to shell out $10 a month or $100 a yr for a Microsoft 365 Private plan or $13 a month or $130 a yr for a Household plan. The one function you possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from and not using a plan is the background elimination in Paint.
Even with the subscription, although, there are limitations. With a Microsoft 365 Household plan, solely the proprietor will get to make use of Copilot. The opposite members will not have any entry to AI. Plus, there is a restrict on how a lot AI you should use.
With both plan, Microsoft grants you as much as 60 AI credit every month. Any AI-related process you carry out in any Microsoft app chews up a credit score. Expend all 60, and you will have to attend till the following month. In fact, Microsoft would favor that you simply improve to a full Copilot Professional plan to get all of the AI you need at a price of $20 a month.
As Microsoft continues so as to add AI to its key merchandise, it is solely pure that the corporate costs its prospects for the privilege. What Microsoft prospects must resolve is whether or not they wish to proceed utilizing these merchandise or discover options which are simply as succesful however cheaper.
