Microsoft released an updated AI component for Copilot+ PCs this week, fine‑tuning the on‑device generative erase and fill capabilities inside Paint and Photos. The update, KB5079264, bumps the Image Transform AI component to version 1.2601.1273.0 and arrives automatically through Windows Update for machines running Windows 11 version 26H1.

A closer look at the update

KB5079264 is a small, targeted servicing update that applies only to Copilot+ PCs—devices with a certified neural processing unit (NPU). According to Microsoft’s advisory, the Image Transform AI component “can be used to erase a foreground object and fill in the space with a generated background.” The update “includes improvements” to this component for Windows 11 version 26H1, but the KB does not spell out what those improvements are.

You must have the latest cumulative update (LCU) for Windows 11 version 26H1 installed before this component package can be offered. Once the prerequisite is met, the update is downloaded and installed automatically via Windows Update. To confirm installation, go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history and look for “Image Transform version 1.2601.1273.0” under the Microsoft updates list.

Microsoft’s documentation for AI component updates is deliberately brief. The company does not publish granular changelogs detailing model architecture tweaks, inference operator optimizations, or segmentation improvements. However, based on the version progression—previous Image Transform releases included versions 1.2505, 1.2506, 1.2507, 1.2508, and 1.2511—this update likely refines foreground detection, background inpainting quality, and NPU performance. In short, the update should make object removal look more natural and complete faster.

What it means for you

Home users and creatives

If you own a Copilot+ PC, you don’t need to do anything. The update installs silently, and the next time you use generative erase in Paint or Photos, the results may be a bit cleaner. Generated backgrounds should blend more convincingly with the rest of the image, and edge artifacts—odd shadows or blurring around erased objects—may be reduced.

Generative erase is available to a broad range of Windows 11 devices, but generative fill (where you click an area and the AI paints in new content) remains exclusive to Copilot+ hardware for the time being. This update likely improves both features on qualifying machines, but if your PC lacks an NPU, you will not receive the Image Transform package at all.

IT administrators and enterprise fleets

The automatic delivery model is a double‑edged sword. These component updates bypass traditional deployment rings unless you explicitly configure Windows Update for Business or WSUS to block them. That means an AI model change can roll out to production machines without prior validation, potentially altering workflows inside standard apps like Paint and Photos.

Before broad deployment, plan to test KB5079264 in a controlled ring. Validate application compatibility, GPU and NPU driver interactions, and confirm that image‑editing behaviors do not introduce unexpected visual results that could cause confusion in regulated environments. Also, note that the update requires the latest cumulative update—devices running older OS servicing levels will not receive the AI component, which may create an inconsistent experience across your fleet.

Privacy and data governance

Microsoft emphasizes that many Copilot+ AI components run locally on‑device, leveraging the NPU. Local inference is a genuine privacy advantage because image data does not necessarily leave the machine. However, the KB does not guarantee that every inpainting operation stays entirely local. App‑level features or user‑account integrations (such as Image Creator) may still invoke cloud services under certain conditions. If you handle sensitive images, validate the network behavior of Paint and Photos on a test device after the update to ensure data stays on‑premises.

Another governance concern: there is no built‑in, tamper‑proof provenance metadata stamped onto images edited by these AI tools. If you need to preserve original media for legal or compliance reasons, implement a workflow that automatically archives originals before any AI‑assisted edits take place.

How we got here

Microsoft has been shipping on‑device AI functionality as modular, versioned components for Copilot+ PCs since the platform’s launch. Instead of bundling every AI improvement into a monolithic cumulative update, the company releases discrete KBs that increment component version numbers and deliver “improvements” without detailed public changelogs.

Image Transform is the engine behind generative erase and fill in the rebuilt Paint and Photos apps on Windows 11. It relies on the device’s NPU to run machine‑learning models that perform inpainting—the process of intelligently filling removed areas with synthesized background content. Microsoft has iterated on this component multiple times through 2025 and into 2026, with each new version aiming to improve segmentation accuracy, reduce artifacts, and lower latency.

The modular approach allows Microsoft to tune its AI models quickly and tailor builds for specific silicon—Qualcomm, Intel, or AMD—without forcing a full OS servicing cycle. For end users, that means faster improvements; for administrators, it means a new class of updates that require attention in change‑management processes.

Steps you can take

For home users

  1. Verify installation – Open Settings > Windows Update > Update history. If you see “Image Transform version 1.2601.1273.0 (KB5079264)”, the update is installed.
  2. Test the improvements – Open Paint or Photos and try the generative erase or fill tools. Work on a copy of your original image so you can compare.
  3. If something goes wrong – There is no straightforward one‑click uninstall for these component packages. If you experience visual glitches, try using System Restore to roll back to a point before the update, or use the Windows Update Show/Hide troubleshooter to temporarily block it (not recommended for most users).

For IT administrators

  1. Add KB5079264 to your test plan – Validate on‑device AI features with your standard image sets, and check for compatibility issues with graphics drivers and any custom imaging tools.
  2. Monitor network traffic – Use a packet analyzer on a test device while using generative edit features. Confirm that no image data is sent to external endpoints during local inpainting.
  3. Control the rollout – If you need to defer or block the update, use Windows Update for Business policies or WSUS to prevent delivery until testing is complete. Note that blocking this component may also affect future AI updates if they follow the same release channel.
  4. Educate users – Make sure content owners know that AI edits do not automatically add tamper‑evident provenance metadata. Establish a policy that originals must be archived before any AI‑assisted modifications.

What’s next

Microsoft will continue to ship incremental Image Transform updates as part of its strategy to keep Copilot+ AI features fresh. Expect more frequent releases that sharpen inpainting, expand object recognition, and potentially unlock new editing capabilities. The company is also expected to broaden the availability of generative fill beyond Copilot+ hardware in future feature updates, so non‑NPU devices may eventually receive parts of the toolkit.

For now, KB5079264 represents a quiet but meaningful upgrade for anyone using a Copilot+ PC for photo editing. It’s a low‑risk improvement that should make your everyday image touch‑ups look more polished—just don’t forget to keep your originals safe.