Windows Paint and Notepad Now Include AI Tools for Smarter Image and Text Editing

Artificial intelligence features have now been built into two long-established Windows applications, updating even the simplest tools. Windows Paint and Notepad now offer built-in AI assistance, and this report explains how these functions work and details the steps to disable them if you prefer.

Tech companies have worked to integrate intelligent capabilities into a wide range of software and devices, resulting in imaginative enhancements even to basic programs. These improvements address both the creation of images and the refinement of text. Users who need AI help in these well-known Windows apps now have several options at their disposal.

When you open Windows Paint—a program long recognized for its straightforward image drawing and editing functions—you will notice a new Copilot button. Pressing this button brings up three distinct features. The first option, known as Image Creator, transforms descriptive input into visual art. The second, Generative Erase, lets you remove unwanted elements from a picture. The third, Remove Background, automatically clears away surrounding details so that only the main subject remains visible.

Selecting Image Creator presents a text field for you to enter a description of the image you envision. For example, you might describe a scene featuring a giraffe enjoying a sandy seashore or a design showing a pineapple shaped like a spacecraft. The system relies on the amount of detail provided to closely match your vision. After you complete your description, a drop-down menu appears offering various image styles to choose from. Once you click the Create button, the software generates several thumbnail options; you can then pick the one that best fits your idea and have it applied to your current canvas.

The Generative Erase tool offers a practical solution for tidying up your photos by removing unwanted objects or individuals. This feature provides simple controls: use the plus icon to add areas to your selection and the minus icon to subtract sections, while a slider adjusts the size of your selection brush. When your chosen area is finalized, clicking Apply prompts Paint to analyze adjacent pixels and fill in the gap, effectively eliminating the unwanted element from your image.

The Remove Background function works in a straightforward manner by turning all parts of the image white except for the primary subject. This tool does not offer extra settings and tends to perform best when the main figure stands out clearly. Many users find that it delivers impressive results and significantly cuts down on the time spent on manual image editing.

It is important to note that while Generative Erase and Remove Background are available at no extra cost, the Image Creator feature uses AI credits connected to your Microsoft account. These credits are included only as part of a subscription package with Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro. Users should keep their usage in mind when generating new images.

Notepad, another fundamental Windows tool, has also received an AI upgrade. Although it has long served as a basic text and code editor, recent updates have introduced enhanced formatting capabilities and an automatic save feature. Upon launching Notepad in Windows, you will see a Copilot button positioned in the top-right corner of the interface.

Unlike other applications or web tools that generate entirely new content, the Copilot feature in Notepad is designed to improve and adjust text that you have already written. To use it, start by entering some text and then highlight the portion you wish to change. Clicking the Copilot button brings up a selection of options. You can choose to shorten or lengthen the text, or modify its tone so it reads as inspirational, formal, casual, or humorous.

Another available option is Change format, which rearranges your selected text into different structures such as a list, marketing copy, or poetic language. An additional feature labeled Rewrite offers a broader array of modifications and shows preview versions of the edited text. When you open Rewrite, a new window displays several variations in style, length, and structure. Once you find an option that meets your needs, click Replace to update the text accordingly.

At this time, Notepad appears to provide a few AI-driven text modifications without charge. Yet extended use of these rewriting tools, much like using Image Creator in Paint, will consume AI credits that come only with subscriptions like Microsoft 365 or Copilot Pro.

For users who decide that these automated features do not suit their workflow, the Copilot integration can be easily disabled. Simply click the gear icon in the upper right corner of the application and toggle the Copilot switch to off. This action removes the AI buttons from view, restoring the program’s more traditional interface.

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