Microsoft OneDrive’s New Windows App and AI Photo Agent Unveiled
▼ Summary
– Microsoft is launching a redesigned OneDrive app for Windows with a photo gallery, people view, AI slideshows, and editing features.
– The new Windows app will support local photo editing and allow users to store images locally or upload them to the cloud.
– Copilot integration includes a Photos Agent for Microsoft 365 subscribers to search for photos and create albums via a chatbot interface.
– OneDrive on mobile will add AI editing to animate photos, clean up blurry shots, and feature a moments tab for memories.
– A new “hero link” sharing feature simplifies document access by using URLs, similar to Google Docs, to request file permissions.
Microsoft is preparing to launch a completely redesigned OneDrive application for Windows in the coming year, bringing a host of new features including an integrated photo gallery, facial recognition capabilities, AI-generated slideshows, and advanced editing tools. This major update is part of a broader initiative to enhance the cloud storage experience across all devices, with additional improvements rolling out to mobile platforms as well.
The upcoming Windows application represents a significant departure from the current version. Rather than relying on a small taskbar flyout, the new OneDrive will function as a full-fledged desktop application, mirroring the user-friendly interface found on mobile devices. Users will benefit from a comprehensive gallery view that organizes all cloud-stored images, alongside a dedicated people view that automatically detects faces in photos and allows for easy identification and naming.
Soon, the Windows application will also support local photo management. This means you can edit images directly within OneDrive and choose to save them locally on your device or upload them to Microsoft’s cloud storage, providing greater flexibility in how you manage your digital memories.
Enhanced Copilot integration is another cornerstone of this update. A new feature called the Photos Agent will be available to Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers. Acting as an intelligent assistant for your photo library, it enables you to perform natural language searches, for example, asking to see all photos from a specific vacation or recalling images from a particular date. Copilot will not only locate these photos but also assist in creating custom albums effortlessly.
On the mobile front, OneDrive for iOS and Android is receiving its own set of AI-powered enhancements. Users will soon be able to apply animated artistic styles to their pictures and easily remove blurry or duplicate images directly from the app. A recently introduced “moments” tab is already being deployed, which highlights older photos and “on this day” memories to help resurface meaningful moments from the past.
Sharing documents is also becoming more straightforward thanks to a new “hero link” feature. Instead of generating complex, permission-specific URLs, you can now simply copy a document’s direct link. Recipients who lack access will be able to request permission seamlessly, eliminating the frustration of encountering access-denied errors. This approach brings OneDrive in line with the sharing convenience long offered by services like Google Docs.
(Source: The Verge)
