Microsoft has started rolling out a helpful Suggested Replies feature in the Phone Link app that gives users AI-powered text suggestions for quick replies to their messages, the software giant stated in a Support blog post. The new feature uses Microsoft’s Cloud AI models to create short replies to specific messages, resulting in faster response times. It is rolling out in Phone Link version 1.24082.137.0 for Windows 11 24H2 and 23H2. You don’t need to be in the Windows Insider Program to try out the feature, but you won’t see the Suggest Replies feature on all messages. You’ll only see the suggestions when the Phone Link’s AI can understand the message. For example, you won’t see the replies if the message is too long, if it notices a URL, if you get a message with offensive content, or if it is an OTP (one-time password) message. Microsoft states: “Once a user navigates to a text conversation in Phone Link, their recent text messages are uploaded to a Microsoft service to provide suggested replies within the conversation window. The customer texts are collected to provide this service and for Microsoft to improve the experience and monitor for safety and security purposes.” Microsoft also relies on user feedback when the suggested replies don’t meet user expectations to improve it in the future. However, Microsoft also warns users that AI can make mistakes; therefore, users are encouraged to double-check their responses before choosing one. If you want to opt out of Suggested Replies, you can go into the app’s settings and choose Features > Suggested Replies. So far, there is no official information on when the feature will finish rolling out to all users. If you’re unfamiliar with the app, try our handy guide and discover how to get more out of the app. The Start Menu has been the central element in Microsoft Windows for nearly three decades. Though loved initially for its resourcefulness, the Menu went through some debatable — I call them abhorrent — changes with Windows 8, but eventually returned to occupying less space in the interface with Windows 8.1, and then Windows 10 and 11. Despite the rescuing, it is still reeling under the damaging changes in the form of recommendations and random automatically populating lists that reduce it to a mere glorified search interface. However, Microsoft may now be looking to resolve these issues and bringing back a more simplified interface with an upcoming update. Microsoft is testing a new interface for Start Menu on Windows 11, reducing the existing clutter of randomly interspersed apps and files. X user @phantomofearth, renowned for testing new features in Windows Insider builds, gave us a good look at the new interface in a detailed video walkthrough. A newly discovered trick allows Windows 11 users to bypass Microsoft’s online account requirement during setup, raising questions around user control and privacy. The workaround, shared by X user @witherornot1337, lets users set up Windows 11 with a local account instead of being forced to log in with a Microsoft account. This follows previous similar methods, highlighting an ongoing cat-and-mouse game between Microsoft and privacy-conscious users. Microsoft has been increasingly pushing online accounts as a mandatory requirement for Windows 11, particularly in Home and Pro editions. This change has frustrated many users who prefer local accounts for greater privacy and independence from Microsoft’s ecosystem. The next leg of the AI race is on, and has expanded beyond the usual players, such as OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. In addition to the dominance of the tech giants, more open-source options have now taken to the spotlight with a new focus in the AI arena. Various brands, such as DeepSeek, Alibaba, and Baidu, have demonstrated that AI functions can be developed and executed at a fraction of the cost. They have also navigated securing solid business partnerships and deciding or continuing to provide AI products to consumers as free or low-cost, open source models, while larger companies double down on a proprietary, for-profit trajectory, hiding their best features behind a paywall.

Microsoft has started rolling out a helpful Suggested Replies feature in the Phone Link app that gives users AI-powered text suggestions for quick replies to their messages, the software giant stated in a Support blog post. The new feature uses Microsoft’s Cloud AI models to create short replies to specific messages, resulting in faster response times. It is rolling out in Phone Link version 1.24082.137.0 for Windows 11 24H2 and 23H2. You don’t need to be in the Windows Insider Program to try out the feature, but you won’t see the Suggest Replies feature on all messages. You’ll only see the suggestions when the Phone Link’s AI can understand the message. For example, you won’t see the replies if the message is too long, if it notices a URL, if you get a message with offensive content, or if it is an OTP (one-time password) message. Microsoft states: “Once a user navigates to a text conversation in Phone Link, their recent text messages are uploaded to a Microsoft service to provide suggested replies within the conversation window. The customer texts are collected to provide this service and for Microsoft to improve the experience and monitor for safety and security purposes.” Microsoft also relies on user feedback when the suggested replies don’t meet user expectations to improve it in the future. However, Microsoft also warns users that AI can make mistakes; therefore, users are encouraged to double-check their responses before choosing one. If you want to opt out of Suggested Replies, you can go into the app’s settings and choose Features > Suggested Replies. So far, there is no official information on when the feature will finish rolling out to all users. If you’re unfamiliar with the app, try our handy guide and discover how to get more out of the app. The Start Menu has been the central element in Microsoft Windows for nearly three decades. Though loved initially for its resourcefulness, the Menu went through some debatable — I call them abhorrent — changes with Windows 8, but eventually returned to occupying less space in the interface with Windows 8.1, and then Windows 10 and 11. Despite the rescuing, it is still reeling under the damaging changes in the form of recommendations and random automatically populating lists that reduce it to a mere glorified search interface. However, Microsoft may now be looking to resolve these issues and bringing back a more simplified interface with an upcoming update. Microsoft is testing a new interface for Start Menu on Windows 11, reducing the existing clutter of randomly interspersed apps and files. X user @phantomofearth, renowned for testing new features in Windows Insider builds, gave us a good look at the new interface in a detailed video walkthrough. A newly discovered trick allows Windows 11 users to bypass Microsoft’s online account requirement during setup, raising questions around user control and privacy. The workaround, shared by X user @witherornot1337, lets users set up Windows 11 with a local account instead of being forced to log in with a Microsoft account. This follows previous similar methods, highlighting an ongoing cat-and-mouse game between Microsoft and privacy-conscious users. Microsoft has been increasingly pushing online accounts as a mandatory requirement for Windows 11, particularly in Home and Pro editions. This change has frustrated many users who prefer local accounts for greater privacy and independence from Microsoft’s ecosystem. The next leg of the AI race is on, and has expanded beyond the usual players, such as OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Microsoft. In addition to the dominance of the tech giants, more open-source options have now taken to the spotlight with a new focus in the AI arena. Various brands, such as DeepSeek, Alibaba, and Baidu, have demonstrated that AI functions can be developed and executed at a fraction of the cost. They have also navigated securing solid business partnerships and deciding or continuing to provide AI products to consumers as free or low-cost, open source models, while larger companies double down on a proprietary, for-profit trajectory, hiding their best features behind a paywall.