Microsoft Expands Copilot With Local File Access and OS-Wide Actions in Windows

Microsoft announced a significant upgrade to its Copilot AI system at its Windows and Surface event on October 7, 2026, giving the assistant access to local files on a user’s PC and the ability to take actions across the operating system.

The new capability is part of a framework Microsoft calls “Hybrid Intelligence,” which combines local and cloud AI models to complete tasks. Jacob Andreou, Microsoft’s EVP of Copilot, demonstrated the feature on stage using a tool called Autopilot. In the demo, Andreou asked Autopilot to help prepare documents for his accountant. The AI searched across folders, renamed files, compressed them into a zip folder, and drafted an email with the zip file attached — all without manual input.

Andreou said features powered by Hybrid Intelligence will roll out to Copilot over the “next couple months.”

Microsoft also previewed a redesigned Windows search experience that allows users to take quick actions directly from the search bar. Demonstrated capabilities include toggling dark mode, adjusting microphone volume with an inline slider, and sending a text message. Pavan Davuluri, who leads Windows and Surface at Microsoft, said the updated search experience will be available starting this fall on Windows 11 PCs.

The upgrades suggest Microsoft is moving Copilot beyond a conversational assistant toward a tool capable of executing multi-step tasks that span local storage and system settings. For users, this could mean less time spent manually managing files or navigating system menus — though the full scope of what Copilot can access and control on a device may raise questions about privacy and file permissions as the features become more widely available.