Windows Recall AI Feature Launch Delayed Due to Security and Privacy Issues

Last week, Microsoft announced that it is postponing the launch of the Windows Recall AI feature to allow for more thorough testing before releasing it as a public preview on Copilot+ computers.

Recall was first introduced in May 2024. The feature is designed to help users “recall” any information they have previously viewed, making it accessible through a simple search. Recall, which was initially planned to be enabled by default on all new Copilot+ PCs, takes a snapshot of the active window on the screen every few seconds, recording everything happening in Windows—whether browsing websites, chatting in messengers, or working with other applications.

The captured snapshots are processed by the device’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU) and an AI model to extract data from the screenshots. The information is then stored in a SQLite database, allowing Windows users to search their history using natural language queries.

The public preview release of Recall was originally scheduled for June 18, 2024, to coincide with the launch of the first Copilot+ PCs. However, Microsoft has now stated that the launch is being delayed. It is expected that in the coming weeks, the feature will only be available to a limited number of people as part of the Windows Insider program.

“After receiving feedback about Recall from our Windows Insider community, we plan, as usual, to make Recall (preview) available to all Copilot+ PCs,” the company said.

According to an updated post on Microsoft’s blog, the launch of Recall was postponed to ensure the feature meets the company’s “high standards” for quality and security.

“This decision is based on our commitment to provide a reliable and secure experience for all customers and to gather additional feedback before making this feature available to all Copilot+ PC users,” Microsoft added.

Recently, Recall has faced criticism from both cybersecurity experts and privacy advocates. Specialists have compared the feature to a keylogger built into Windows and have already demonstrated how it could be used to steal data.

In response to this criticism, Microsoft announced that it would enhance Recall’s security by making the feature optional and encrypting the database so it would not be accessible until the user authenticates with Windows Hello.

It remains unclear what additional security measures Microsoft plans to implement in Recall and when the feature will become available to regular users.