- Microsoft is testing a new Copilot feature called PC Insights, which will let you ask the assistant natural language questions about your computer’s hardware and storage.
- Users will also be able to ask about CPU usage, battery health, etc., to diagnose issues.
- PC Insights is expected to read CPU, RAM, and GPU usage, calculate free storage space, and check folder sizes for places like your Downloads or Documents.
- The feature will reportedly be opt-in and will ask users for permission each time they ask Copilot a hardware-related question, unless a user switches it to 'Always allow.'
- PC Insights aims to replace generic troubleshooting responses with personalized answers based on the current state of a user’s PC.
- Once enabled, Copilot can query Windows system APIs to gather details about the processor, memory, graphics, storage, connectivity, battery health, and connected peripherals.
- For example, if a user is experiencing slow performance, they can ask Copilot for the cause, which could identify issues such as high memory usage, low free disk capacity, or sustained CPU activity.
- Microsoft has not announced a general availability date for PC Insights.
Microsoft is gradually rolling out PC Insights, a new feature within the Copilot app for Windows 11, designed to enhance user experience by allowing natural language queries about system performance.
This feature enables users to ask questions regarding CPU usage, battery health, and storage space, aiming to provide personalized troubleshooting responses based on real-time telemetry data.26
Once enabled, Copilot can access system APIs to gather information about processor, memory, graphics, and connected peripherals. For instance, if a user experiences slow performance, they can inquire about the cause, and Copilot may identify issues like high memory usage or low disk capacity.7
The feature is currently being tested in the United States and is not yet widely available. Microsoft has stated that the visibility of data is limited to folder and file size metadata unless users grant additional permissions.
However, independent tests have shown that the Copilot app can consume up to 1 GB of RAM while idle, raising concerns about its resource usage. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri has outlined plans to reduce the operating system's baseline memory usage.
Despite these challenges, PC Insights could simplify the process for users to check their computer's performance and security status through straightforward questions. Microsoft has not yet announced a general availability date for this feature, and its final capabilities may change as testing continues.8
The PC Insights test comes as Microsoft expands Copilot across its products, demonstrating practical uses for the AI assistant directly within Windows.
“The opt-in feature, currently testing in the US, reads CPU, RAM, GPU usage and storage via system APIs but requires permission each time unless set to 'Always allow'; it cannot modify settings or files, and Microsoft does not store personal data. It aims to replace generic troubleshooting with personalized answers based on real-time PC data, and Windows chief Pavan Davuluri recently outlined plans to reduce memory usage.”
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