Notepad & Paint Get AI: Microsoft’s New Features!

Microsoft’s incremental updates to Windows 11’s built-in apps – Notepad and Paint – are less about groundbreaking innovation and more about a quiet admission: the foundation of Windows is finally stable enough to focus on polish. While the new features themselves (strikethrough in Notepad, a fill tolerance slider in Paint, and AI coloring book pages) are welcome, the real story is Microsoft’s belated commitment to the core user experience. This comes after years of neglect, and a growing perception that Microsoft was prioritizing new features over refining existing ones.

For years, Windows’ included apps were a source of frustration. They felt dated, lacked features found in competing software, and often simply didn’t work well. The arrival of Windows 11, while visually revamped, didn’t immediately address these issues. It’s only recently, with dedicated teams focused on “Inbox Apps,” that we’ve seen consistent improvements. This shift is crucial because these apps aren’t just about functionality; they define the baseline experience for hundreds of millions of users. A polished Notepad and Paint contribute to the overall perception of Windows as a modern, reliable operating system.

However, Microsoft’s enthusiasm for AI feels…misplaced. While the AI coloring book feature in Paint is a novelty, it’s unlikely to be a core use case for most users. The risk is that Microsoft will prioritize flashy AI integrations over addressing fundamental usability issues in other, more critical apps. The inclusion of AI features feels less like a genuine enhancement and more like a box-ticking exercise to demonstrate Microsoft’s AI prowess.

And that brings us to the bigger problem: uneven attention. While Notepad and Paint are getting love, apps like Weather, News, and even Outlook (particularly the web version) remain stubbornly subpar. This selective improvement strategy is baffling. If Microsoft truly wants to elevate the Windows experience, it needs to apply the same level of dedication to *all* its built-in apps, not just the ones that generate the most headlines.

        <div class="custom_block-content pullquote"><p>If Microsoft wants third-party developers to take the modern Windows platform seriously, it needs to lead the charge with first-rate applications.</p>    </div>


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Looking Ahead: The next few months will be critical. We’ll be watching to see if Microsoft continues to prioritize AI features in core apps, or if it shifts its focus back to fundamental improvements. More importantly, we need to see a commitment to bringing all of Windows’ built-in apps up to a consistent standard of quality. The success of Windows 11 hinges not just on new features, but on the reliability and usability of the tools users rely on every day. If Microsoft doesn’t address the glaring deficiencies in apps like Weather and Outlook, it risks undermining the progress it’s made with Notepad and Paint, and ultimately, alienating its user base. The real test isn’t whether Microsoft *can* add AI, but whether it can deliver a consistently excellent experience across the entire Windows ecosystem.