The Delay of Microsoft’s Recall AI Feature: What to Expect in October

Microsoft recently announced that its controversial Recall AI feature, originally planned for launch in June, will now be available for Windows Insiders to try out in October. This delay was due to security concerns raised by researchers. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect from this feature and the changes Microsoft is making to ensure its security.

The Recall AI feature uses local AI models built into Windows 11 to screenshot nearly everything you see or do on your computer. It allows you to search and retrieve items you’ve seen and provides an explorable timeline for you to look back at your work on a particular day. While Microsoft claims that Recall is secure, local, and private on-device, security researchers found that the database wasn’t encrypted, posing a potential security risk.

Researchers discovered that malware could potentially access the Recall feature due to the lack of encryption in the database. As a result, Microsoft is making significant changes to Recall to address these security concerns. Some of these changes include making the feature opt-in instead of on by default, encrypting the database, and implementing authentication through Windows Hello. These changes are crucial to ensuring the safety and privacy of users’ data.

While Microsoft did not provide specific reasons for the further delay of Recall, it is evident that security remains a top priority for the company. The additional time is likely needed to thoroughly test the security changes and ensure that Recall meets the necessary standards before its release. This delay may result in a longer testing period with Windows Insiders, potentially pushing back the full launch of Recall to a later date.

Microsoft’s Insider program typically tests new features for weeks or months before rolling them out more broadly. The timing of Recall’s full release will depend on when the test version is shipped in October. As Microsoft continues to prioritize security and user privacy, users can expect a more secure and reliable experience with the Recall AI feature once it is officially released.

The delay of Microsoft’s Recall AI feature to October is a necessary step to address security concerns and ensure a safe and reliable experience for users. By making significant changes to the feature, such as encryption and opt-in settings, Microsoft is taking proactive measures to protect user data. While the exact timeline for Recall’s launch remains uncertain, Windows Insiders can look forward to testing the feature in October and providing valuable feedback to help improve its functionality.