Microsoft chickens out of rolling out Recall to all Copilot+ PCs, choosing instead to push the all-seeing AI tool out to Windows Insiders first

pcgamer.com:

Next week would have been an interesting time for anyone with a Copilot+ AI PC. Microsoft had originally planned to give owners of a Snapdragon X-powered laptop a preview version of its AI nosey neighbour feature, Recall, but after concerns over security and privacy, that's been scrapped in favour of restricting it to members of the Windows Insider program.

Since its announcement last month, the much-vaunted Recall hasn't been especially well received. I'm not sure who thought it would be a great idea to have a PC constantly keep track of everything you do on it but Microsoft has certainly promoted the AI tool rather heavily.

However, security and privacy concerns over the idea of a PC keeping snapshots and screenshots of it all in a local database. that anyone with access to the machine could potentially see, prompted Microsoft to announce changes to how the data would be kept safe.

But even that doesn't seem to have completely allayed fears and with the PC industry's hopes of flush bank balances, bolstered by sales of Copilot+ PCs, the software giant has changed tack on how the first version of Recall would be released. Initially, all Copilot+ owners would get it, starting June 18, but that's been dropped in favour of releasing it via the Windows Insider program first.

This is Microsoft's beta channel for Windows, letting members of the public get early versions of Windows updates to try out. Pavan Davuluri, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President for Windows and Devices, gave thereasons for this change in an updated blog:

«We are adjusting the release model for Recall to leverage the expertise of the Windows Insider community to ensure the experience meets our high standards for quality and security. This decision is rooted in our commitment to providing a trusted, secure and robust experience for all customers and to seek additional feedback prior to making the feature available to all Copilot+ PC users.»

This will happen in «the coming weeks» and Microsoft still