In brief: Notepad didn't change much in the first few decades following its debut in 1983. However, Microsoft has added several significant features to the cleartext editor in the years since Windows 11 debuted. The latest brings the software onto the generative AI bandwagon, evoking a function that Apple recently introduced.
Microsoft has introduced AI-based text editing to Notepad in the Windows 11 Insider and Preview channels. The feature follows other generative AI functions that the company has added to pre-installed Windows apps.
The AI editor, called Rewrite, can rephrase text selections to change their length and tone. Apple recently made a similar feature available across several macOS and iOS apps for owners of the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, and all devices with M-series processors.
To use Rewrite, right-click a highlighted text selection and select Rewrite from the toolbar. Pressing Ctrl+I also summons the toolbar, which contains options to make text shorter, longer, more professional, or more casual. Then, users select one of three revisions.
Rewrite is available in Notepad version 11.2410.15.0 for all Preview channel users in the US, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany. Microsoft 365 subscribers can also use the feature in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Notepad started accumulating new features in 2021 when Microsoft refreshed its visual appearance. The company added tabs in 2022, and autocorrect in July of this year. Rumors regarding AI integration initially emerged in January.
Microsoft's new text editor joins AI-based image editing options that recently arrived for the company's Paint and Photos apps. GenAI fill and erase features recently came to Paint for Insiders and should become available for all Copilot+ PC owners later this month. Meanwhile, Photos can apply Super Resolution to increase the resolution of images on Snapdragon X Elite PCs.
Unlike the GenAI image editing functions, Rewrite doesn't require Copilot+ PCs or processors with NPUs because it relies on Microsoft's Azure cloud infrastructure. Although all Windows 11 PCs can access the feature, it requires a login. Furthermore, users receive a limited number of rewrites, as Microsoft introduced an AI credit balance system to control server traffic.
The company doesn't specify how many credits each rewrite consumes, but nonsubscribing users start with 50, Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plan users receive 60 per month, and Copilot Pro subscribers get "extensive" usage. AI credits are also used for AI functions like image editing, search, finance, and planning.
