Microsoft has unveiled a major update to its Photos app, introducing new artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities aimed at improving the way users organise and enhance their image collections. However, the most advanced features will only be available to those using the company’s latest Copilot+ PCs.
The update, now available in the Microsoft Store, focuses on local AI processing and leverages the neural processing units (NPUs) built into compatible devices. Rather than serving as a full-fledged photo editor, Microsoft’s upgraded Photos app is designed as a smart organiser, capable of sorting, tagging, and improving images with minimal user input.
Smarter photo organisation powered by AI
At the core of the update is an AI-powered classification system that scans users’ photo libraries to automatically sort images into functional categories, including screenshots, receipts, documents, and handwritten notes. This feature aims to save time and reduce the frustration of scrolling through disorganised folders.
The classification tool operates directly on the device using its NPU, ensuring that data remains local rather than being uploaded to the cloud. Microsoft has also stated that this feature works across multiple languages, meaning it can correctly identify and tag documents written in different scripts.
Another key addition is the new keyword search function, allowing users to locate specific images more quickly. This will be particularly helpful for those with years of accumulated digital photos and files.
AI image enhancement with “super resolution”
In addition to improved organisation, Microsoft has added a “super resolution” feature designed to upscale low-resolution images while preserving detail. Unlike many online upscaling tools, this process happens entirely on the user’s device, avoiding reliance on external servers.
The technology uses local AI computation to restore lost details and enhance clarity, which Microsoft claims can make older or compressed images appear closer to modern quality standards. For users looking to refresh decades-old photos or enlarge small images without distortion, this feature could prove especially useful.
However, this new AI capability comes with a significant limitation. It is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs that include NPUs from Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm. This means that while the Photos app update is broadly available, many of its headline features will only run on the latest hardware.
A glimpse of Microsoft’s hardware-driven strategy
The restricted access to these features highlights Microsoft’s growing emphasis on integrating AI directly into its hardware ecosystem. By making these advanced capabilities dependent on NPU-equipped devices, the company is positioning Copilot+ PCs as the foundation for its next-generation AI experiences.
While Microsoft promotes the new Photos app as a major leap in convenience and functionality, the hardware requirements may leave many existing Windows users unable to take full advantage of its most innovative tools.
For some, this limitation may reinforce their reliance on familiar alternatives. Casual users may continue to use free photo editors, while professionals are more likely to adhere to established industry standards, such as Adobe Photoshop.
Despite these constraints, the update signals a clear shift in Microsoft’s software development approach—one that ties its most powerful features to a new wave of AI-enabled devices.
