Recall, a contentious tool for Copilot+ PCs that records every action users do with their computers by taking frequent screenshots, was supposed to be released to the general public, but Microsoft decided against it and will only make it available to Windows Insiders for the time being.
When Recall was first unveiled on May 20, Redmond marketed it as a useful tool that would assist users in finding emails they had sent to The Register with an excellent tip, or in remembering the name of a fantastic website they had visited the week before but had forgotten to save. In principle, Recall employs artificial intelligence (AI) to decipher queries that should locate that website, email, or anything else users may have done on their PCs and wish to retrieve.
There was not much excitement for that concept. Rather, it caused a flurry of controversy when a leaked FAQ revealed that Microsoft acknowledged the program might also record passwords and other personal information, such as bank account numbers. There are clear privacy concerns when one considers that anyone with access to a Recall-running computer might view such information.
Criticism Came in Waves
Recall was proposed as an example of those devices’ capabilities and unveiled on the same day as the Copilot+ PC, which is Redmond’s name for a system with a 40-TOPS NPU optimized to handle AI applications.
However, hackers soon discovered that Recall could operate on less powerful hardware; as a result, more PCs may be vulnerable once the tool is made freely available.
When it was found that the tool was turned on by default and that accessing Windows Settings was necessary to turn it off, Microsoft’s problems only got worse. Dragons are present.
There was a pile-on. Analysts concluded that Microsoft had erred significantly. Science fiction writer Charles Stross, who has mentioned The Register on occasion, said that Recall is a lawyer’s dream because it saves everything, thus every action a PC user takes can be found out while preparing for a lawsuit.
Microsoft steadfastly supported Recall for 17 days, but on June 17, the massive developer gave in and declared that the tool would now be opt-in rather than on by default. Additional security measures were also implemented, including the requirement that data stored by the tool be decrypted only after a query has been made and that results from Recall be produced only after authentication.
Recall continued to face criticism despite those actions, as some believed that Microsoft’s lack of awareness of privacy issues was a reflection on the company’s culture.
The injured software giant took a further step down on Thursday when it was revealed in an addendum to the opt-in announcement that Recall will no longer be available to all Copilot+ PC customers as of June 18.
Rather, Recall will be made available to Windows Insider Program participants “in the coming weeks.”
Microsoft’s corporate veep for Windows+ devices, Pavan Davuluri, has stated that a preview for all Copilot+ PCs will be “coming soon,” once those devoted Windows enthusiasts have had their say about Recall and provided feedback.
Postponing Microsoft is not happy with Recall’s debut since it chose to go solo and coin the phrase “Copilot+ PC” at a time when its major silicon partners, AMD and Intel, were excited about “AI PC.”
However, Qualcomm chips powered the first Copilot+ PCs to be disclosed, marking a significant shift for the chip design company that rules mobile devices but has had difficulty breaking into the PC industry.
The talk of Qualcomm-powered PCs has become much more common than the benefits of those new devices in the weeks since the recall generated such a stir.
Additionally, Qualcomm’s best won’t automatically receive the app that Microsoft uses to highlight them.
Months may pass before they do. Fewer users will be able to test Recall in the coming weeks due to its requirements for a Copilot+ PC and the relatively modest size of the Windows Insider community in comparison to the total Windows user base.