Another Crazy Day in AI: Windows 11 Update Makes PCs More Intuitive
- Wowza Team
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
Hello, AI Enthusiasts.
Midweek systems check: Are you updated, or just your laptop?
Microsoft just rolled out a major refresh for Windows 11, built for how we actually work (and create). It promises smarter help with work, creativity, and whatever else is open in your tabs right now.
Also hitting refresh: MIT Tech Review just mapped out the 5 big truths about AI this year, including what we still don’t understand.
And PayPal is on the lookout for sketchy transfers with real-time warnings. Because nothing ruins your week like getting scammed by a “friend.”
Here's another crazy day in AI:
Latest Windows update focuses on usability
Five must-know AI trends in 2025
PayPal launches real-time AI scam alerts
Some AI tools to try out
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Microsoft is Adding New AI Tricks to Windows 11
Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)
What if your PC could do more than follow instructions? What if it could anticipate your needs and help you stay in the flow?
Microsoft’s latest Windows 11 update introduces a growing list of features designed to make everyday tasks on your PC more responsive and intuitive. Shared by the Windows Experience Blog team, the update focuses on improving how users interact with their devices, especially those with Copilot+ PCs. It’s less about big, flashy changes and more about small, meaningful upgrades that remove friction and make the experience feel more natural.
From adjusting settings with plain language to smarter tools in apps like Paint, Photos, and Snipping Tool, the features aim to streamline how people get things done. There’s also a noticeable emphasis on accessibility and real-time guidance, features that meet you where you are, whether you’re working, creating, or simply navigating your desktop.
Here’s a closer look at some of the new additions:
Voice access and live captions now support more languages, extending accessibility tools to a wider range of users.
Paint comes with enhanced layering and transparency support, plus AI-powered background removal.
Snipping Tool now features sound capture and auto-saving—useful for screen recording and tutorials.
Photos gets smarter with better AI-based background blur, content search, and location detection.
Copilot integration lets users change settings and perform basic actions using natural language, like “turn off battery saver.”
The new Settings homepage highlights key system details and frequently used controls at a glance.
Microsoft's deployment approach here reflects a more cautious strategy than we've seen with some past major updates. Spreading these features across a month-long rollout gives users time to discover and adapt to new capabilities without overwhelming their established routines. Some features arrive through regular update mechanisms, while others require users to opt into preview releases. This gradual introduction allows Microsoft to gather real-world usage data and address issues before wider distribution.
The underlying philosophy behind these updates raises interesting questions about the future of human-computer interaction. Microsoft appears to be betting that users prefer describing their intentions in natural language rather than navigating through traditional menu structures. However, they seem mindful of not disrupting workflows that people have spent years perfecting. Most new features supplement existing methods rather than replacing them entirely, which could make adoption smoother but might also limit their transformative impact. For Windows 10 users, the extended security program provides flexibility during this transition period, though the October 2025 cutoff creates inevitable pressure to eventually upgrade. Whether these incremental improvements will prove compelling enough to drive widespread adoption remains to be seen, particularly among users whose current computing setup already meets their needs effectively. The true measure of success will be how naturally these features integrate into daily work patterns and whether they genuinely reduce the cognitive load of routine tasks.
Read the full article here.
OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:
Five Must-Know AI Trends in 2025
/Will Douglas Heaven, (AI Senior Editor), on MIT Technology Review
MIT Technology Review’s senior editor, Will Douglas Heaven, breaks down the five most important ideas shaping AI in 2025. From generative tools that now outperform humans in media to rising energy demands and the mystery behind how large language models actually work, the picture is both awe-inspiring and cautionary. Heaven emphasizes that while AI is improving fast, much of its inner workings remain misunderstood—and hype around terms like "AGI" may be more illusion than progress. His SXSW London talk offers a candid, expert tour through where we really stand today with this technology.
Read more here.
PayPal Launches Real-Time AI Scam Alerts
/PayPal Newsroom
PayPal has rolled out AI-powered scam detection for Friends and Family payments on both PayPal and Venmo, offering dynamic alerts that intervene before money is sent. The system uses adaptive AI models to detect and warn users of potentially fraudulent transactions in real time—especially scams originating on social media. Unlike static warnings, the alerts are personalized to each payment’s risk profile and escalate in severity based on scam likelihood. The new feature is now live across PayPal’s global markets and all U.S. Venmo users.
Read more here.
SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:
That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.
Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉
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