6 AI-Powered Laptop Features You're Probably Not Using

AI is booming and has become one of the biggest selling points of new-generation laptops. Be it a budget device or a premium flagship, chances are it will be equipped with a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) along with several AI-powered tools designed to simplify everyday tasks.

With Microsoft pushing Copilot+ PCs and chipmakers like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm integrating AI capabilities directly into their processors, these features are becoming increasingly common. However, many users still use their AI-powered laptops just like any other PC.

While AI chatbots have become part of daily workflows, many built-in features, such as Windows Studio Effects, Click to Do, Recall, and more, that can improve productivity, enhance video calls, speed up searches, or assist with creative tasks often go unnoticed.

Therefore, in this guide, we have listed six AI-powered laptop features you are probably not using but should. Take a look at them.

Why It Matters

Many AI-powered features are built into today's laptops, but they often go unnoticed because users are unaware they exist or don't know how they work. Exploring these capabilities can help you unlock the full potential of your laptop and make everyday tasks a little easier.

Best AI-Powered Features on Laptops

1. Windows Studio Effects

Windows Studio Effects is an inbuilt Windows feature that uses the laptop's NPU to improve the camera and microphone during video calls. It applies AI enhancements in real time, system-wide, so the effects work in Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, the Camera app, and most other programs without needing extra software.

What it does:

• Blurs the background

• Corrects eye contact so the user appears to look at the camera even when reading notes

• Automatically frames the user and keeps them centered as they move

• Isolates the user's voice and reduces background noise

• Improves lighting and adds optional creative filters on higher-end devices

The full set of effects is mainly available on Copilot+ PCs with stronger NPUs. Laptops with weaker NPUs usually get only the core options --background blur, basic eye contact, auto framing, and Voice Focus.

How to turn it on

• Press Win + A to open Quick Settings, then click the Studio Effects tile.

• It can also be found in Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, and then Cameras by selecting the camera.

Background Blur and Voice Focus are the two most practical options for everyday use. Eye Contact works reasonably well in good lighting but is limited -- it mainly adjusts vertical gaze and can struggle with glasses or poor lighting. Auto Framing is reliable when only one person is in the frame.

2. Live Captions with Live Translation

The Live Captions feature generates real-time captions for any audio playing on the laptop. This includes video calls, YouTube videos, local media files, system sounds, and more. On Copilot+ PCs, Live Captions also supports live translation from around 40 languages into English, and the translation works offline.

It is worth noting that the captions appear as an overlay on the screen and can be moved or resized. The feature runs system-wide, so it works across apps without requiring separate settings in each one.

What it does:

• Generates real-time captions for audio playing on the laptop

• Works with video calls, videos, local media, and system audio

• Translates supported languages into English on Copilot+ PCs

• Works across apps without requiring separate settings

• Runs offline for supported languages

How to turn it on

• Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Captions, and switch on Live Captions.

• Once enabled, the captions start automatically whenever audio is detected. Translation can be selected from the caption window's settings menu when available.

Live Captions are especially useful during meetings with non-native speakers, while watching foreign-language content, or in noisy environments where audio is hard to follow.

3. Click to Do

The Click to Do feature lets users take AI-powered actions on anything visible on the screen. It analyses text or images locally and then offers relevant options such as summarising text, rewriting content, creating a bulleted list, removing a background, erasing objects from an image, translating text, searching the web, or sending the selection to Copilot.

What it does:

• Summarises and rewrites selected text

• Creates bullet points from content

• Translates text

• Removes backgrounds or erases objects from images

• Searches the web or sends content to Copilot

• Processes supported content locally before performing actions

How to use it

• Press the Windows key and click the mouse, or press Windows + Q.

• Selecting text or an image then shows the available actions.

• Notably, the feature can also be launched from the Snipping Tool or by searching for "Click to Do".

Click to Do is touted as a useful tool for processing information without switching between apps. The feature works best on clear text and well-lit images.

4. Recall

The Recall feature is an opt-in Windows feature on Copilot+ PCs that creates a searchable visual timeline of activity on the device. It periodically takes encrypted snapshots of the screen and lets users later find past content by describing it in natural language. All snapshots are stored locally and encrypted. Users can exclude specific apps or websites, pause collection, or delete data at any time.

What it does:

• Captures snapshots of the screen at regular intervals

• Builds a timeline of those snapshots

• Allows users to search the timeline using everyday language

• Opens the relevant snapshot so the user can jump back to that moment

How to enable and use it

• Go to Settings, then Privacy & security, then Recall & snapshots, and turn on Save snapshots.

• Open Recall by pressing Windows + J or by searching for it in the Start menu.

Recall, which is still in the early rollout phase, is useful for retrieving information that is difficult to find through normal search. It works best when users are comfortable with screen capture and actively use the privacy controls.

5. Cocreator and Generative Tools in Paint & Photos

Cocreator and the generative tools in the Photos app are built-in Windows features on Copilot+ PCs that create and edit images locally. These tools run on the device rather than relying entirely on the cloud, making them faster and more private on supported hardware.

What they do:

• Generate new images from a text prompt or a rough sketch (Cocreator in Paint)

• Remove backgrounds from photos with one click

• Erase unwanted objects from an image using Generative Erase

• Restyle existing photos with AI filters or text prompts

How to use them

• Open the Paint app and select Cocreator, or open the Photos app and look for the generative editing options. A text prompt or a simple selection is usually enough to get started.

The tools are useful for quick creative work or simple photo clean-up without needing third-party software. Results are generally solid for everyday use, though complex or highly detailed requests can still look imperfect.

6. AI-powered Windows Search

AI-powered Windows Search is an enhanced version of the normal search feature available on Copilot+ PCs. It allows users to find files, images, documents, and settings by describing them in everyday language instead of needing the exact file name.

What it does:

• Understands natural language descriptions

• Searches across files, images, and system settings

• Uses the NPU to index and understand content locally

How to use it

• Open Windows Search from the taskbar or press Windows + S, then type a description of what you need.

• The same improved search also works inside File Explorer and Settings.

This feature is useful when the exact file name has been forgotten or when searching for visual content. It works best with clearly described items and well-organised files.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Next Steps

Now that you know about these built-in AI features, it's worth exploring which ones are available on your laptop and enabling the ones that suit your workflow. If you're planning to upgrade, consider choosing a laptop with a dedicated NPU or a Copilot+ PC to take advantage of the latest AI capabilities.

You can also check out our guides on Best 2-in-1 Convertible Laptops, Best Creator Laptops for Video Editing and Design, Best Laptops Under Rs 70,000, Best Travel-Friendly Laptops, Best Gaming Laptops, and New Laptop Setup Checklist to help you choose and get the most out of your next laptop.

Disclaimer: The availability of AI-powered features may vary depending on your laptop model, processor, NPU capabilities, Windows version, and region. Some features mentioned in this article are exclusive to supported Copilot+ PCs or require the latest Windows updates. Always check your device specifications and software version for compatibility before use.