Local Ai Features
The latest Local Ai Features coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
One-Day AI Boot Camp at Tusculum University Promises Hands-On ChatGPT Training for Entrepreneurs
Tusculum University will host a one-day AI Boot Camp on July 28, 2026, focused on practical ChatGPT skills and workflow automation for small businesses. The hands-on event aims to bridge the AI skills gap by teaching prompt engineering, content creation, data analysis, and ethical use—all integrated with Windows productivity tools. Participants will leave with actionable techniques to immediately apply AI in their daily operations.
AI Goes Mainstream in 2026 Classrooms, Forcing a Reckoning on Assessment and Integrity
By 2026, AI usage among students has skyrocketed, leading universities worldwide to revamp traditional assessments and adopt new integrity frameworks. This in-depth look examines the global response, from AI detection arms races to transparent usage policies, and the long-term shift toward AI-fluent graduates.
Norway Bans Generative AI for Youngest Students, Sparking Urgent Windows IT Policy Reviews
Norway has banned generative AI for students in grades 1-7 and tightened restrictions for older pupils, effective June 2026. This forces Windows-based school districts to urgently reconfigure devices, networks, and policies to block AI tools, raising operational costs and technical challenges. The move may influence global education policy and pushes Microsoft toward developing tenant-level AI controls for education.
Microsoft Shifts Copilot Cowork to Metered Billing in 2026, Weighs DeepSeek on Azure as Cost-Saving Option
Microsoft will transition its Copilot Cowork to usage-based billing in June 2026, keeping the Microsoft 365 Copilot license as a prerequisite. The company is also weighing cheaper AI models like DeepSeek, hosted on Azure, to offer cost-effective agentic AI options. This shift aims to align costs with actual usage and lower barriers for enterprise adoption.
DeepSeek-Powered Copilot Cowork: Microsoft's Cost-Saving Pivot for Agentic AI
Microsoft is planning to integrate a fine-tuned DeepSeek model into its Copilot Cowork platform, aiming to cut costs and offer greater model flexibility. This strategic shift, coupled with a usage-based pricing model set for June 2026, signals a focus on making agentic AI more affordable and scalable for enterprises.
How a Crafted Link Could Make Copilot Leak Your MFA Codes – Microsoft’s Fix
Microsoft has fixed CVE-2026-42824, a vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Copilot that let attackers steal MFA codes and sensitive data through crafted links. Discovered by Varonis, the flaw abused Copilot’s Enterprise Search to execute prompts without proper validation. The patch reinforces input handling and permission boundaries, but the incident highlights critical AI security risks in enterprise tools.
Build 2026 Reveals Microsoft's Agent-First AI Play: Azure, Copilot, and the Value Chain Converge
Microsoft's Build 2026 conference in San Francisco outlined a comprehensive AI strategy built on four pillars: expanding Azure with custom silicon, developing in‑house models like the enterprise‑focused Prometheus, launching agentic computing platforms in Copilot Studio, and distributing Copilot across Windows and Microsoft 365. The plan aims to create a tightly integrated value chain that locks in enterprise customers and reshapes the competitive landscape.
Microsoft Splits Windows 11 Paint Into Cloud AI with Credits and Local NPU Power for Copilot+
Microsoft has transformed Windows 11 Paint into a dual-mode image editor: all users now get layers, project files, and background removal, while cloud-based AI image generation consumes Microsoft 365 credits. Copilot+ PCs unlock local NPU-powered Cocreator that works offline without credits, creating a split-brain strategy that differentiates premium hardware while still modernizing the classic app for the masses.
Windows 11 25H2 turns Notepad into a modern editor with Markdown live preview, tabs, and Copilot AI
Microsoft is overhauling Notepad for Windows 11 25H2 with tabs, Markdown support, session restore, recent files, spell check, and Copilot AI integration. These enhancements modernize the classic editor while maintaining its speed and simplicity, offering users a powerful yet lightweight text editing experience.
xAI Unleashes Grok Add-ins for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in Direct Challenge to Microsoft Copilot
In early 2026, xAI launched Grok add-ins for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, bringing Elon Musk's AI assistant to Office via a sidebar panel. The add-ins feature X-connect for real-time X data, but raise enterprise governance and security concerns while directly competing with Microsoft Copilot.
Meredith Whittaker Warns Windows Users: AI Chatbots Aren't Friends—They're a Privacy Trojan Horse
Signal President Meredith Whittaker warns Windows users that AI chatbots and autonomous agents pose a privacy threat that encryption cannot address. She highlights how these systems are designed to exploit emotional connections to harvest personal data, and offers practical steps to protect user information from agentic AI.
How an AI Coding Assistant Uncovered 143GB of Hidden Bloat Windows Storage Sense Missed
A MakeUseOf writer leveraged Anthropic’s Claude Code to discover 143GB of forgotten files—including old VMs, Android emulator images, and AppData bloat—that Windows Storage Sense completely missed. The AI-guided cleanup highlights the shortcomings of traditional disk maintenance and previews a future where conversational agents can safely reclaim wasted space.
AI Chatbot Use Among U.S. Adults Surges to 49%, Pew Report Shows
A new Pew Research Center survey finds 49% of U.S. adults use AI chatbots, up from 33% in 2024. Despite rapid adoption, user trust remains a key concern, with privacy and accuracy worries prevailing. The findings highlight challenges for tech firms integrating AI into products like Windows Copilot.