Microsoft Announces AI-Powered Features for Paint and Photos on Copilot Plus PCs

Microsoft has announced the introduction of innovative AI-powered features to its Paint and Photos applications on Copilot Plus PCs, a move set to enhance the capabilities of these tools for creative tasks. The new features, dubbed Generative Fill and Generative Erase, are designed to streamline the editing process, making it easier for users to modify images without relying on more complex software.

The Generative Fill and Generative Erase tools in Paint appear to draw inspiration from similar AI functionalities found in Adobe Photoshop. These tools utilise adjustable brushes that allow users to paint over specific areas of an image to make edits. Generative Erase can remove unwanted elements such as figures and background clutter, mirroring the functionality of Google’s Magic Eraser feature found on Pixel phones. Generative Fill enables users to add new AI-generated elements to an image via text descriptions, allowing for precise placement akin to Photoshop's corresponding tool.

These new features are an extension of the Cocreator tool for Paint, announced earlier this year for Copilot Plus PCs. Cocreator generates images based on a mix of text prompts and reference sketches. According to Microsoft, the diffusion-based model that powers these features has been updated to enhance both output quality and speed, and now incorporates "built-in moderation" to prevent misuse.

Alongside the enhancements in Paint, Microsoft has also upgraded the Photos application with new upscaling capabilities. Though specific details about these upscaling enhancements were not fully detailed, initial demonstrations suggest significant improvements in the pixel dimensions of edited images, potentially increasing the usability and appeal of the Photos app among users seeking high-quality image outputs.

These updates represent a significant step forward in Microsoft's efforts to integrate AI within its software, providing users with powerful new tools to create and edit images more efficiently and effectively. As these AI-driven features continue to evolve, they are expected to impact a wide range of creative workflows, reducing the reliance on traditionally more complex image editing software.

Source: Noah Wire Services