Tech giant Microsoft has begun testing AI-powered features in classic programs Notepad and Paint, over 40 years after their release.
Windows 11 Insiders on the Canary and Dev Channels with the latest updates can now use new “generative fill” and “generative erase” tools in Paint, enhancing image editing with AI. These features build on the previously launched Cocreator tool, based on OpenAI’s DALL-E model, which allows users to edit images by adding or removing elements using simple prompts.
Notepad has also received an AI-powered “Rewrite” feature (formerly “CoWriter”), allowing users to rephrase text, adjust tone, and modify length to refine content based on specific goals. Currently available for Windows 11 users in select regions, “Rewrite” requires a Microsoft account to access.
These updates mark a modernization effort for both tools, which saw notable upgrades starting in 2018 to stay competitive with other text and image editors. The new features arrive as part of Microsoft’s broader AI integration into Windows 11, continuing its push to enhance user creativity and productivity through AI.
