Redesigned Windows 11 Widgets Board Unveiled in Trials, Introducing Copilot Discover Feed - Artificial Intelligence-curated stories directly on your desktop screens
Microsoft has rolled out a new feature for the Windows 11 widgets panel, replacing the traditional MSN feed with the Copilot Discover feed. This innovative news experience leverages AI to curate personalized content for users.
Personalized AI-Curated Stories
The Copilot Discover feed utilizes AI to present news stories tailored to users' interests and Copilot usage, offering a unique and engaging content feed.
Faster and Smoother Interface
The new feed boasts a faster and smoother interface compared to the older MSN feed, with less laggy animations and scrolling.
Cleaner, More Legible Layout
Stories are now displayed in larger boxes with bigger fonts, reducing clutter and improving readability.
Interactive Story Options
When hovering over stories, users can upvote or downvote the content, bookmark for later reading, and follow or block specific media outlets to refine their feed preferences. Additionally, stories containing videos start playing automatically when hovered over, enhancing engagement without the need for clicks.
Customizable Notifications
A new Notifications button at the top of the feed allows users to customize their alerts, with options to enable or disable breaking news, weather updates, stock market changes, and other important notifications.
MSN Website Linking Remains
Although the feed's design is new, clicking a story still directs users to the MSN website to read the full content.
Widgets Panel Improvements
The Copilot Discover feed is currently being tested with a limited group of users, with plans to roll out more broadly if feedback is positive. Microsoft is also working on allowing users to customize and pin widgets to the lock screen on Windows 11.
This redesign is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to integrate AI deeply across Windows 11, providing more intelligent, personalized features within familiar interfaces like the widgets panel. Microsoft first announced the new Copilot Discover feed in May.
[1] Microsoft (2022). New Copilot Discover feed in Windows 11 widgets panel
[2] Microsoft (2022). Copilot Discover: A new way to get the news you care about on Windows 11
Microsoft's Copilot Discover feed in the Windows 11 widgets panel, an improvement over the traditional MSN feed, showcases personalized news using AI technology. The new feed offers a cleaner, more legible layout with larger boxes and bigger fonts. Users can interact with stories by upvoting, downvoting, bookmarking, following, or blocking specific media outlets. Software updates like this are part of Microsoft's effort to integrate AI more deeply into Windows 11, extending to features like the Xbox Game Pass app, Edge browser, and Office suite. Despite the evolution of the MSN feed, clicking a story still directs users to the MSN website for full reading.
