Microsoft recently announced that it will be delaying the release of its Recall AI feature due to security concerns. Originally planned to launch in June, the feature will now be available for Windows Insiders in October.
The Recall AI feature, designed for Copilot Plus PCs, utilizes local AI models within Windows 11 to capture screenshots of user activity on their computers. This allows users to search and retrieve items they have previously seen, as well as scroll through a timeline of snapshots to review their work on a specific day.
Despite Microsoft’s assurance that Recall is secure and private, security researchers discovered that the database was not encrypted, leaving it vulnerable to potential malware attacks. As a result, Microsoft is implementing major changes to Recall, including making the feature opt-in rather than enabled by default, encrypting the database, and introducing authentication through Windows Hello.
In a blog post, Windows and Surface chief Pavan Davuluri announced that Recall’s release to Windows Insiders in October was delayed further without providing specific reasons. However, Davuluri emphasized that security remains a top priority for Microsoft and that more details will be shared when Recall becomes available for testing.
With these additional security measures in place, the full launch of Recall may be delayed beyond this year. Microsoft typically tests new features extensively with its Insider program before releasing them more broadly, so the timeline for Recall’s official release may depend on the success of the upcoming test version in October.
The delay of Microsoft’s Recall AI feature highlights the importance of prioritizing security in software development. By addressing the security concerns raised by researchers and implementing necessary changes, Microsoft aims to deliver a secure and reliable feature for its users. Stay tuned for more updates on Recall as it becomes available for testing with Windows Insiders in October.