Microsoft is currently running quiet experiments with a groundbreaking artificial intelligence feature that could completely transform how people interact with their Windows computers. The tech giant is testing what it calls "agentic features" that would allow AI to take direct control of your system to automate repetitive daily tasks.
What Is Microsoft's New AI Feature?
The latest Windows 11 build, version 26220.7272, available through the Insider Dev and Beta Channel programs, contains a hidden toggle for "Experimental agentic features" within the settings menu. To activate this functionality, users need to navigate to Settings > Settings > AI Components and explicitly grant permission for AI assistants to control their system.
This revolutionary feature, officially named "Agentic Workspace," enables AI to perform actions like clicking buttons, completing forms, and scrolling through windows automatically. Think of it as an advanced digital assistant similar to those found in agentic browsers such as Comet, but with the crucial difference that this AI can directly manipulate your computer's interface and applications.
How Agentic Workspace Transforms Your Computing
The practical applications of this technology are extensive and designed to handle everyday computing chores that typically consume valuable time. Need to crop multiple images? The AI can accomplish this with a simple command. Want to rename numerous files simultaneously? The agent can handle that task efficiently as well.
One of the most significant advantages is the ability to minimize the window and let the AI continue working in the background while you focus on more important work. The feature integrates directly with Copilot Actions, making it easily accessible for users who are already familiar with Microsoft's AI ecosystem.
Performance Considerations and User Concerns
Microsoft has openly acknowledged that enabling these AI capabilities may impact system performance, with the extent varying depending on your computer's hardware specifications. The company advises users to exercise caution when granting this level of access to an AI agent.
This warning has resonated with some members of the Windows community who have expressed concerns about Microsoft's increasingly aggressive integration of AI throughout Windows 11. Many users remain wary of handing over control of their systems to artificial intelligence, particularly following the controversial reception of features like Recall and other recent AI additions to the operating system.
Currently, Microsoft is testing these agentic features exclusively with early adopters in the Windows Insider program. However, the direction is clear: the company is determined to make Windows 11 increasingly AI-powered, fundamentally changing the traditional user-computer relationship. The ultimate adoption of this technology will depend on how useful users find these automation capabilities versus their comfort level with AI controlling their devices.
