Microsoft is quietly reshaping how AI fits into everyday Windows use, and the latest Windows 11 test build shows exactly where the company is heading. Two major changes are now in the pipeline: a new Microsoft 365 Copilot button inside File Explorer's Home tab, and a brand-new writing assistant that appears across text fields system-wide.

These additions signal a future where AI becomes less of a separate feature and more of a natural part of how we open files, write messages, or navigate Windows.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Makes Its Way Into File Explorer's Home Tab

File Explorer already has an AI touch, thanks to the existing Ask Copilot option in the right-click menu. But Microsoft is expanding that by testing a second entry point: Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot directly inside the Home tab.

Right now, the Home tab is pretty barebones. But in upcoming builds, hovering over your recent files will reveal a new Ask M365 Copilot option. Selecting it sends the file straight to the Microsoft 365 Copilot interface, where you can request summaries, insights, or quick information without manually opening the file first.

It's a small change in placement, but it reflects Microsoft's broader goal: integrating AI into core Windows experiences instead of keeping it tucked behind menus.

How This Differs From the Existing "Ask Copilot" Context Menu

Windows already lets you right-click a file and choose Ask Copilot. However, the two buttons are meant for slightly different contexts.

The right-click Ask Copilot option feels more conversational. You pick a file and can ask general questions about it, but results depend heavily on how detailed your prompt is.

The new Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot button sits inside the Home tab and is more tightly aligned with Office-style workflows. It's tuned to handle documents like Word files, PowerPoints, or Excel sheets with a stronger focus on summarisation and structured insights.

Functionally, both features still rely on the same underlying technology — the ChatGPT engine behind Copilot. But Microsoft is trying to position the M365 version as the productivity-focused one.

What Is Actually Happening Behind the Scenes?

According to Microsoft, this integration provides "insights without leaving your current context." In practice, that means you click the Copilot button, Windows sends the file to Microsoft 365 Copilot, and the AI returns a summary or other requested information.

It's not entirely clear whether the analysis happens locally or in Microsoft's cloud, though current behaviour strongly suggests cloud processing.

Along with this, users will notice a small but handy addition: a new folder icon in the Home tab that opens the file's actual location. It might be the simplest feature in the update, but arguably the most universally useful.

These changes apply across all Windows 11 devices, whether you're on Intel, AMD, or Snapdragon.

A New Universal Writing Assistant, But Only for Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft isn't stopping at File Explorer. A new AI-powered writing assistant is being tested across the operating system — a much broader upgrade compared to earlier tools.

Previously, only Microsoft Edge had a built-in writing helper, powered by a lightweight language model capable of fixing grammar within browser text fields. Microsoft Editor once offered a more full-fledged alternative to Grammarly, but it's been discontinued.

Now, Windows is getting a system-wide writing assistant that appears whenever you interact with a text box online. Whether you're composing a LinkedIn post, writing a comment, or replying to a thread, the assistant can clean up grammar, suggest improvements, and even rewrite your text in a different tone if you want something more formal, casual, direct or expressive.

There's one catch: this universal writing assistant is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, meaning it's designed to run on devices equipped with next-generation NPUs capable of handling AI workloads efficiently.

What This Means for Windows Users Going Forward

These updates show just how aggressively Microsoft is weaving AI into the Windows experience. File Explorer is becoming more intelligent, writing tools are becoming more proactive, and AI is slowly becoming something that sits quietly in the background, ready to help the moment you interact with a file or type a sentence.

It's a shift that continues Microsoft's vision of turning Copilot into a core part of Windows — not an addon, but a system feature.