May 25, 07:16 PM

Microsoft Adds AI to Notepad, Paint, Snipping Tool; GitHub Copilot Hits 15 Million Users, New Agent in Preview

Microsoft has introduced new artificial intelligence features across several Windows applications, including Notepad, Paint, and the Snipping Tool. Notepad users with Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro subscriptions can now generate custom text by entering prompts, with the option to refine the output through follow-up instructions. Paint allows users with Copilot+ compatible PCs to generate AI-powered stickers based on text descriptions, and features an Object select tool for editing specific image elements. The Snipping Tool now includes a 'Perfect Screenshot' feature, which uses AI to automatically resize and crop screen captures, and a Color picker that extracts HEX, RGB, or HSL values. Both the Paint and Snipping Tool features require Copilot+ hardware, while the Notepad AI feature requires a Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro subscription. Microsoft also announced a new GitHub Copilot agent at its Build developer conference. This agent, currently in preview, can autonomously fix bugs and implement features in code, and is available to Copilot Pro+ and Copilot Enterprise subscribers. The GitHub Copilot assistant now has over 15 million users, a fourfold increase from the previous year. A free Copilot tier for individuals provides limited access. According to the State of Web Dev AI 2025, 91% of developers use AI for code generation, with DevOps teams accepting between 20% and 35% of AI-generated code recommendations. Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI have all rolled out major upgrades to their AI coding agents in recent weeks.