Microsoft keyboards are getting a new hardware key for AI – of course

In what can only be seen as a push to get more people using its AI, Microsoft is adding a Copilot AI hardware button to “select PC keyboards.”

Shown off in a demo video on the Microsoft Copilot webpage, the Copilot key sits between the arrow keys and the right Alt button where it should not be too out of place given that some keyboards already place buttons there (my Logitech keyboard has a Control key there). Its exact position may vary depending on the size of the keyboard and what is there already, but the intention is clear — get more people using Copilot AI.

Microsoft state that the new Copilot key will join the Windows key as a core part of the PC keyboard with it launching the Copilot in Windows experience “making it seamless to engage Copilot in your day to day.”

Microsoft has certain rules around compulsory keys in Windows keyboards but at this stage the Copilot key isn’t compulsory just yet, but Microsoft told Ars Technica that “it expects Copilot keys to be required on Windows 11 keyboards “over time”.”

With chip manufacturers such as Intel and AMD introducing NPUs for AI into their chipsets this year (keep an eye out for new laptops and PC with these new Intel chipsets at CES this week) it seems likely that Microsoft will continue to develop and build AI into their stable of apps.

Whether Copilot AI is the answer for Microsoft (Cortana certainly wasn’t) remains unclear but with a hardware key on the way they certainly are betting big on it. Keep an eye out for new Windows PCs with the new key at CES this week and for Surface devices with the new button coming soon.