How to Use AI Built Into Windows 11 to Work Better

I’ve been obsessed with finding ways to use AI to be more productive without having to open 15 browser tabs. And the big surprise was discovering that Windows 11 already comes packed with AI tools most people don’t even know exist. If you want to learn how to use AI built into Windows 11 to work better, you’ve come to the right place.

I’m not just talking about Copilot. Microsoft has been embedding AI features into practically every native Windows app: Paint, Photos, Snipping Tool, Video Editor, Notepad… Let’s go through all of them and see how to make them work for your daily productivity.

Table of contents

Copilot: Your main AI assistant in Windows

Let’s start with the most obvious one. Copilot is the nerve center of AI in Windows 11 and the tool with the biggest productivity impact.

Real work use cases

Here are the situations where Copilot helps me most professionally:

Drafting emails: I tell it “draft a professional email requesting a deadline extension for project X because we need more time for testing” and it generates a draft I just review and send. It saves me 10 minutes per email.

Meeting summaries: After a video call, I copy the notes and ask Copilot to summarize them into key points with action items. In 30 seconds I have a summary ready to share with the team.

Data analysis: When I have an Excel spreadsheet open, I ask “what’s the trend in this data?” or “what conclusion do you draw from this chart?” and it gives me analysis I can use in presentations.

Quick translation: I copy text in another language, open Copilot with Win + C, and type “translate this.” It’s faster than opening Google Translate in the browser.

Paint with AI: Generate and edit images without Photoshop

If you thought Paint was the same doodling program from forever ago, get ready for a surprise. Paint in Windows 11 has AI features that make it a surprisingly useful tool.

DALL-E image generator

Paint includes a feature called “Cocreator” that uses DALL-E to generate images:

1. Open Paint.
2. Click the “Cocreator” button in the toolbar.
3. Describe the image you want in English.
4. Paint will generate several options you can insert into the canvas.

Background removal

Another AI feature in Paint:

1. Open an image in Paint.
2. Go to Tools > Remove background.
3. Paint automatically detects the subject and removes the background.

It’s ideal for product photos, professional profiles, or social media content. It’s not as perfect as Photoshop, but for 80% of cases it’s good enough.

Windows 11 Photos: AI for organizing and editing

The Photos app in Windows 11 has several AI features that significantly improve the experience:

Smart search

The Photos app can search images by content. Type “dog” in the search bar and it will find all your photos with dogs, even if you never tagged them. It uses object recognition to identify people, animals, places, and objects.

AI object removal

1. Open an image in the Photos app.
2. Click Edit.
3. Select the object removal tool.
4. Mark the object you want to delete (person, sign, car…).
5. The AI reconstructs the background automatically.

Automatic photo enhancement

The Photos app has an “Enhance” button that automatically adjusts brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness using AI. One click and the photo looks professional without you having to know anything about editing.

Snipping Tool with AI

Windows 11’s screenshot tool now has AI features:

Text extraction from images (OCR)

1. Take a screenshot or open an image in Snipping Tool.
2. Click the “Text” button.
3. The AI extracts all visible text from the image and copies it to the clipboard.

This is incredibly useful for:

• Copying text from PDFs that don’t allow selection.
• Extracting addresses from websites, prices, names.
• Capturing code from images or presentations.

Screenshot translation

1. Take a screenshot of text in another language.
2. Click “Translate.”
3. The text is automatically translated to the language you choose.

Notepad with AI: Summaries and editing

Notepad in Windows 11 has received very useful AI features:

Summarize long text

1. Open a long text document in Notepad.
2. Select all the text (Ctrl + A).
3. Right-click and select “Summarize with Copilot.”
4. In seconds you have a concise summary of the document.

Change tone and format

You can also select text and ask Copilot to rewrite it more formally, more casually, more technically, or more simply.

Summary table of AI tools in Windows 11

My daily workflow: In the morning I open Copilot (Win + C) to plan the day. I use Snipping Tool to capture data from websites. Paint to create quick images. And Copilot again to draft emails and summarize documents. All without leaving Windows.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a powerful PC to use Windows 11 AI?

Not necessarily. Most AI features (Copilot, Paint, Photos) use Microsoft’s cloud servers, so they work on modest PCs. Only advanced features like Copilot+ PC require special hardware (NPU).

Does Windows 11 AI work offline?

No. Almost all AI features in Windows 11 need an internet connection because the AI is processed on Microsoft’s servers. Without internet, these features aren’t available.

Can I disable AI features if I don’t want them?

Yes. You can disable Copilot from the taskbar. AI features in Paint, Photos, and other apps are optional and only activate when you use them. They don’t bother you if you don’t touch them.

Is it safe to use Windows 11 AI with confidential documents?

With caution. Data you send to Copilot is processed on Microsoft’s servers. For highly sensitive documents, it’s better not to use cloud AI tools and opt for local solutions.

Conclusion

Knowing how to use AI built into Windows 11 to work better doesn’t require being a tech expert. The tools are already there, on your PC, waiting for you to discover them. From Copilot to Paint with DALL-E, from Snipping Tool’s OCR to Notepad’s summaries, Windows 11 has become an ecosystem where AI is around every corner.

Start with whatever interests you most, try it for a week, and you’ll see your productivity improve without effort. AI doesn’t replace your work, but it saves you time on repetitive tasks that steal hours from your day.