Microsoft Quietly Launches Windows AI Lab to Test Experimental AI Features

Microsoft has quietly introduced a new Windows AI Lab program on Windows 11 to test experimental AI features in apps like Paint. As first reported by Windows Latest, a sign-up page for the new program recently appeared in Paint for some Insiders who installed a new version of the app released last week. Microsoft has since detailed the purpose of this new Windows AI Lab program to The Verge.

The invitation message in Paint invited early enthusiasts to “discover the latest AI-powered tools in Paint” and share their feedback on them with Microsoft. The company is used to gradually rolling out new features across its different Windows Insider channels, and it’s sometimes hard to understand why some new Windows features come first to less “advanced” channels. However, this new Windows AI Lab suggests that the company is ready to try a slightly different beta testing approach.

“The Windows AI Lab is a pilot acceleration program for validating novel AI feature ideas in Windows,” said Mike Harsh, partner director of product management at Microsoft, in a statement shared with The Verge. “The program focuses on rapid customer feedback on feature usability, customer interest, and market fit.“

Microsoft has yet to share more details about the new AI features that will be available for testing via this new AI Lab. In recent months, the company has been busy with giving legacy Windows apps like Paint and Notepad an AI makeover, and it looks like this work may soon accelerate.