Microsoft will stop shipping Recall, a man-made intelligence tool for tracking user activity, when it launches the Copilot+ PC next week, it announced in a blog entry on Thursday because of privacy and security concerns.
The company wrote that with the discharge of the brand new machine on June 18, Recall will move from a “generally available” tool to a preview feature that may only be available through the Windows Insiders Program (WIP). Microsoft plans to make the AI feature available on all Copilot+ PCs once they receive feedback through WIP.
“This decision is rooted in our commitment to provide a trusted, secure, and robust experience for all customers,” Pavan Davuluri, corporate vp of Windows, wrote within the blog post.
Microsoft first introduced the Copilot+ PC on May 20 as a pc designed to run advanced AI programs like Recall. Recall is an AI tool that periodically takes screenshots to create a record of activity so users can search for his or her previous actions.
The recall sparked controversy soon after its announcement, with industry experts expressing concern over the likelihood that hackers could develop tools to steal user information corresponding to usernames and passwords.
In response to the backlash, Microsoft initially announced that the Recall feature can be disabled by default and users would must opt in. The company also implemented additional safeguards, including an encrypted search database and a requirement that Recall users register with Windows Hello, where users must prove their identity through a PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition.
Microsoft's decision to delay Recall follows growing security concerns because the AI field evolves rapidly. Last month, a U.S. government review committee criticized the corporate's handling of the Chinese attack on U.S. government officials' email accounts.
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