• Everyone on Windows 11 is now getting a new AI ‘Rewrite’ feature for Notepad
• It’s rolling out now, although Microsoft hasn’t officially announced this
• The catch is you need a Microsoft 365 subscription to use the functionality (beyond a very limited trial in certain regions)

Windows 11’s Notepad app is getting an AI-powered Rewrite ability, a feature previously seen in testing, going by a new report.

Windows Latest noticed the development, observing that rather oddly, Microsoft hasn’t yet declared that the ChatGPT-powered Rewrite feature is out of testing.

Rewrite does exactly what you’d expect, using AI to rejig any selected piece of text in Notepad (using various parameters that can be adjusted).

As noted, Microsoft’s official documentation still says this functionality is in testing (in the Canary and Dev channels for Windows 11), but in actual fact, it’s rolling out to finished versions of the OS.

The latest release of the full version of Notepad (v11.2412.16.0) has the Rewrite feature, according to Windows Latest, bringing it to all regions globally. It’s also worth noting that when in testing, this was a US-only feature, so its rollout has been swiftly progressed here, to say the least.

(Image credit: Microsoft) How it works – and the limitations of Rewrite

Rewrite in Notepad works similarly to the other incarnations you might have seen this AI-powered option offered in (such as Word, or indeed Copilot on the web).

You select some text, invoke the ability, and then the AI (ChatGPT in this case) will present you with a differently worded version of those sentences, based on certain selected options for tone, length and format. You can then check out three different possible versions of the rewrite and choose the one you prefer.

It’s a relatively simple, but still useful, implementation of text rewriting here, but with a notable catch – you can’t use Rewrite without a Microsoft 365 subscription (and you need to be signed in to use the ability, which has caused some confusion recently).

I say you can’t use it without paying, but that’s not strictly true, because as Windows Latest points out, Rewrite works on a system of paying ‘credits’ and in the US and Canada, along with the UK, you get a limited number of free credits. That limited amount is basically only enough to give you a teaser of how Rewrite works, really.

So, this is effectively a subscriber-only piece of functionality for Notepad, though some might not want it, anyway. I’ve already covered the arguments about Notepad suffering from feature-bloat more and more – moving the app away from its traditional design as a streamlined little text editor – and Rewrite isn’t going to help placate those who feel that Microsoft has lost its way with this piece of software.

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• Google Gemini has six new iPhone lock screen widgets
• Gemini also has new iPhone Control Center shortcuts
• The widgets include instant access to voice input, image recognition, and file analysis

Google just made it a whole lot easier to talk to Gemini on an iPhone, even before it's unlocked. The Gemini app now offers widgets for iPhone lock screens and Control Center, making it feel less like a third-party chatbot and more like a built-in feature of iOS.

The six new lock screen widgets provide instant access to a different Gemini function. Before this update, getting to Gemini meant unlocking your phone, finding and opening to the app, and then choosing what you wanted to do. While hardly an ordeal, it wasn't exactly seamless. Now, though, you can jump straight into the action with a single tap.

The “Type Prompt” widget lets you quickly fire off a question to Gemini without opening the full app. Need a quick answer on whether penguins have knees? Now, you can find out without disrupting whatever else you are doing. “Talk Live” is similarly handy, letting you dive straight into a real-time conversation with Gemini, skipping the previous extra step of launching the chat first.

(Image credit: iPhone Screenshots)

The “Open Mic” option is perfect for when your hands are full, but you suddenly remember you need to set a reminder, schedule a meeting, or ask Gemini to draft an email. If you’re the kind of person who frequently thinks of to-do list items at the worst possible times, this could save you from the familiar cycle of “I’ll remember that later” and then, inevitably, forgetting.

There are also camera-based features that turn Gemini into an on-demand visual search engine. The “Use Camera” widget lets you snap a photo and ask questions about what’s in front of you, which is great for identifying mysterious ingredients in your fridge or confirming that the spider in your bathroom is probably harmless. The “Share Image” and “Share File” options let you upload existing media for Gemini to analyze, whether you want more information, some creative inspiration, or just someone (or something) to acknowledge your latest masterpiece.

If you'd rather make Gemini more invisible, you can set the shortcuts to the corner buttons where the flashlight and camera buttons usually reside. You can also make them part of Control Center, allowing you to swipe down in iOS to see them. Google seems eager to make Gemini feel more at home on your iPhone than Siri, frankly.

(Image credit: iPhone Screenshots) Gemini iPhone

It's also notable that Gemini's attempt to fit in on the iPhone comes as Apple is working to rework Siri for the new AI age. As that complete retooling hasn't arrived yet, Google might be trying to get iPhone users used to Gemini before Siri's AI makeover debuts.

It also sets the stage for a new kind of rivalry among AI assistants. Rather than being relegated to an app you visit when you remember it exists, AI is becoming a more immediate, everyday presence. With these new widgets, interacting with Gemini can be as habitual as checking notifications or adjusting brightness.

That’s a big leap from the days of virtual assistants feeling like novelties that you’d occasionally ask to tell you a joke before forgetting about them entirely.

For now, this update is a clear win for iPhone users who enjoy using Gemini. It makes the assistant faster, more accessible, and more seamlessly integrated into daily life. Whether this is the beginning of a full-scale AI assistant takeover remains to be seen, but it will certainly be harder to ignore if you add it to your lock screen.

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• Microsoft has patched a loophole in Windows Copilot
• Copilot will no longer inadvertently aid in unlicensed OS copies
• The company has yet to tackle the wider issue available online

Microsoft has updated Windows Copilot to prevent the AI-powered assistant from recommending third-party tools to aid in the piracy of its popular operating system.

Previously, it's claimed that Windows Copilot was not only recommending the use of third-party tools, but was also outlining ways to bypass Microsoft's licensing system where other AI programs, such as ChatGPT, were not generating activation keys for the operating system.

When testing Windows Copilot for workarounds, it will now completely reject any prompts for activation codes, third-party tools, and how-to information. Additionally, it stresses how unauthorized copies of the operating system are illegal, violate the terms of service, and recommends contacting official Microsoft support to get a legitimate copy.

Despite the Windows Copilot loophole getting plugged, it goes to show Microsoft's commitment to refining its AI assistant, which has been a core component of the operating system as laptops (and newer desktop processors) have utilized dedicated NPUs to better aid AI workloads. However, the technology is still in its infancy, which is causing some embarrassing issues, such as this one.

With that all said, many methods of unlicensed and authorized Windows 11 activations are still available online, they are just not being actively promoted by Microsoft's own AI assistant. It's about getting things under control as AI-generated content becomes more widely adopted.

A step forward for policing AI content

One of the major privacy concerns around AI has been the unregulated and unauthorized way that it can scrape and produce content for the end user. With Microsoft's Copilot, it was previously (inadvertently) being tricked into showing users ways of bypassing Windows licensing protocols. While it never directly gave out working activation codes, it was making things as easy as possible in other respects. Certainly not something Microsoft would like.

There have been discussions around updates, upgrading and alleged downgrading of Copilot since it first emerged in November 2023. In October 2024, it received a substantial visual makeover, and was able to interact with online and local (on the device) content.

It's a bid to make Copilot stand out against the bulk of its AI-powered rivals such as X's Grok, Google Gemini, and Open AI's ChatGPT. While some of its alternatives may help users bypass Microsoft's security measures, at least it won't be happening on its own platform anymore.

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• Meta announces new limited-edition Ray-Ban Meta glasses
• They’re launching sometime in March
• A promo image suggests numbers will be limited to just 3,600 units

Meta has announced that new “limited-edition Ray-Ban Meta glasses” are set to land this month, with promo images suggesting they’ll be transparent just like the previous limited-edition design it launched – but expect them to be even harder to get your hands on.

Beyond a look at the Ray-Ban logo on a clear-ish frame that shows off the hardware inside the smart specs, we know relatively little about the design. The previous clear frames used the Wayfarer frame type, but this new run could get the Skyler or Headliner design, which have more rounded lenses, although our money is on a bold new design like the frames A$AP Rocky – Ray-Ban’s new Creative Director – just unveiled at Milan Fashion Week – which would tally with the “straight from the runway” comment in Meta’s promotional material for the new limited-edition specs.

We also don’t know if these specs will come with the same limited-edition black case as the previous edition, instead of the standard brown, though we hope they do.

Expect a challenge at checkout

Can't get clear pair? The colored translucent options also look great (Image credit: Meta)

Adding to the list of unknown is that Meta has yet to reveal a price. Given that the previous limited model cost $429 – which is about $100 more than the standard translucent frames – we expect this new design will also be pricier than standard Ray-Ban smart glasses, and perhaps even pricier than the previous limited design.

We say that because while Meta’s last limited run consisted of 7,500 pairs, this time it’s only making 3,600 – at least, that’s what '0001/3600' printed on the frames in the promo image on its website is suggesting. Given the even more limited supply, Meta may choose to bump the price up, so if you’re keen to pick up a pair for yourself you’ll want to act fast when they drop.

There's no precise release date to mark on your calendars, though there is a 'Notify me' button on the website if you want to get an update when the glasses go live –just be prepared to go home empty handed.

Scalpers are showing that they’re still in full force in 2025 by ruining limited drops for tech, and there’s a good chance they’ll strike again here. There may also be scammers around looking to take advantage of the hype if stock does run dry – so be careful buying glasses claiming to be the limited edition Ray-Bans from unofficial stores and resellers.

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