Microsoft is releasing an update for Paint that changes the layout of the Cocreator panel. The new version, 11.2502.121.0, will give you more power over how the AI creates artwork.
The updates the Cocreator panel that was released earlier, and has a simpler and more user-friendly sidepanel layout. Users can begin by describing the art they want to create. They can then start drawing on the canvas with a mouse or pen to kick off the AI image generation. The update keeps existing features like the Creativity slider and the Select style dropdown.
A new feature is the “Try again” button, which lets users create different versions of their artwork. When they’re happy with their creation, they can click the “Apply” button to place it on the main Paint canvas. This new workflow is designed to make it easier and quicker to use the AI art creation tools in Paint.
It is surprising to see it on Paint since Paint is free and this kind of tool is pretty advanced. I have seen it in tools, like Canva and Scenario but these are paid services. As far as I can see, this isn’t going to eat into your AI credits or Microsoft 365 plan—yet. This could be free while it is in testing, and will likely have a cost on release.
Art is probably the most hot button issue for AI. This isn’t as easy as just telling the AI that you want something and it appearing, but it’s not that much harder. This is a way to create great art by giving the AI an idea of what you want, and now users can keep hitting the “Try again” button until they get the result they want. This basically takes a lot more effort out of the process, and based on what is shown, the prompt helps the AI create as close to a perfect outcome as possible.
Since it is being tested, this feature will only be available for Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels while it is being tested. As always, Microsoft wants users to give feedback through the Feedback Hub app, which can be accessed with the WIN + F shortcut.
This is one of the many AI pushes that Microsoft has been pushing, like generative erase or opening up Windows 11 AI features to more PCs. Obviously, Microsoft wants as many people to use its Copilot AI as possible, and adding more features to Paint is part of that. Recently, the company added it to Xbox and Notepad.
There are some benefits to having Copilot on other services. However, just because something adds a slight benefit doesn’t mean it should be there. I have a Copilot key on my keyboard and I have to use Microsoft’s power tools to make it function like the keyboard key it replaces.
This becomes a big issue for me when Power Tools doesn’t want to work. I end up summoning the Copilot pop-up screen like the ghost of Clippy. I don’t want this key at all, but I am forced to deal with it, which is what it feels like when Microsoft forces Copilot on its users who don’t want it.
This kind of thing is really AI-focused, and I don’t doubt that Microsoft 365’s Copilot addition will have something to do with Paint when this feature releases. It will likely take some time since this is AI, and it would need extensive testing to make sure it doesn’t mess with the Copilot flow and ecosystem.
Source: Windows
