Microsoft Paint Adds AI-Powered Coloring Book Feature
▼ Summary
– Microsoft is adding new AI features to its Paint and Notepad apps for Windows 11, including AI text improvements and a tool to generate coloring book pages.
– The new “Coloring book” feature in Paint allows users to create blank coloring templates from a text prompt, generating four results to add to the canvas.
– This Coloring book tool is specifically available only on Copilot Plus PCs, suggesting Microsoft is using it to market its AI-powered Windows devices.
– Paint is also receiving a fill tolerance slider for more control over the Fill tool, which is not restricted to Copilot hardware.
– The Notepad update enables streaming previews for AI-generated text results and adds a new welcome screen and enhanced Markdown syntax support.
Microsoft Paint is introducing a new AI-powered feature that transforms simple text prompts into custom coloring book pages, bringing generative creativity to the classic Windows application. This update, part of a broader rollout of AI enhancements to core Windows 11 apps, is currently available to testers in the Windows Insider program. Alongside Paint’s new tool, Notepad is receiving significant upgrades that leverage artificial intelligence for text editing and formatting, signaling a focused push to integrate AI into everyday computing tools.
The new Coloring book feature in Paint allows users to generate line-art templates from a written description. After selecting the option from the Copilot menu, a prompt like “a majestic dragon guarding a castle” will produce four distinct black-and-white illustrations. Users can then select their preferred design to import directly onto the Paint canvas for digital coloring or printing. This functionality appears tailored for specific audiences, such as parents looking for quick activities or adults seeking a creative outlet, though it raises questions about how frequently such a specialized tool will be used within a simple graphics program.
Notably, the Coloring book capability is exclusive to Copilot Plus PCs, devices equipped with specialized neural processing units. This restriction suggests Microsoft is using these novel features to showcase the advanced hardware and market the unique value of its AI-enhanced computers. In a more universally available update, Paint is also gaining a fill tolerance slider, giving users finer control over how the paint bucket tool applies color to adjacent areas.
The companion updates to Notepad focus on streamlining text-based workflows with AI assistance. The new version enables streaming AI-generated results for its Write, Rewrite, and Summarize functions. This means users can see text previews generate in real-time, eliminating the wait for a complete response. The app now offers a refreshed welcome screen to guide users through its features and has expanded its Markdown syntax support. New formatting options include strikethrough text and the ability to create complex nested lists, making Notepad a more capable tool for note-taking and drafting documents.
(Source: The Verge)
