Windows 11 Notepad Gets an AI-Powered Upgrade: Rewrite Arrives

Microsoft has quietly rolled out a significant upgrade to its venerable Notepad application in Windows 11. The update introduces an AI-powered editing feature called "Rewrite," adding a new dimension to the simple text editor. This feature, initially tested in November and further developed in February, is now appearing on a wider range of Windows 11 systems, including both stable and Insider builds.

The presence of Rewrite is indicated by a "magic pen" icon located in the upper right-hand corner of the Notepad window. However, access to this feature may be restricted to Microsoft 365 subscribers, as the AI capabilities seem to be tied to the productivity subscription service.

Rewrite, as the name suggests, focuses on modifying existing text rather than generating new content from scratch. Users can copy text into Notepad, highlight it, and then instruct the application to "rewrite" it in various ways. The options include simple editing, shortening or lengthening the text, and, most notably, altering the style and format.

The ability to change the tone and format of text is where Rewrite truly shines. Users can request Notepad to rewrite text in a formal, casual, inspirational, or even humorous tone. Additionally, it can transform text into a list, a business memo, an academic paper, marketing copy, or even a poem. This versatility makes Notepad a more adaptable tool for a wider range of writing tasks.

While the author of the original article admits to limited personal use of AI in daily workflows, aside from basic spellchecking and occasional headline suggestions from Copilot or ChatGPT, they acknowledge the potential of Rewrite. They find Copilot’s neutrality somewhat off-putting but recognize its suitability for business communication.

To test Rewrite’s capabilities, the author challenged it to create a poem from a technical news story about Nvidia’s GPU production limitations. Notepad generated three different versions, showcasing its ability to transform complex information into a more creative and accessible format.

The settings menu, accessible via a small "gear" icon, allows users to disable the Rewrite feature. Reports suggest that using Rewrite may consume AI credits associated with certain Microsoft 365 subscriptions, although the author did not observe any visual indication of credit consumption during testing.

Interestingly, the author encountered inconsistencies in Rewrite’s performance across different Windows 11 builds. On a PC running an Insider build, Notepad initially produced only cosmetic edits. However, on a PC with a stable version of Windows, Rewrite successfully transformed the technical article into a humorous poem.

Notepad has traditionally been regarded as a simple utility rather than a creative tool. Microsoft’s decision to integrate AI into Notepad suggests a view of AI as a utility that complements existing tools. This integration aligns with Microsoft’s broader strategy of incorporating AI across its product ecosystem.

Mark, the author of the original article, is a seasoned technology journalist with extensive experience covering PC hardware, software, and related topics. With over 3,500 articles published in PCWorld alone, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge to his analysis of the new Rewrite feature. His prior work includes contributions to prominent publications such as PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science, and Electronic Buyers News, where he received a Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. His recent anecdote about donating a large collection of Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs humorously illustrates the ever-expanding landscape of technology and its associated accessories.

The integration of AI into Notepad represents a subtle but significant evolution for the application. While Notepad remains a simple text editor at its core, the addition of Rewrite adds a layer of functionality that could make it a more useful tool for a wider range of users. Whether you need to quickly rephrase a sentence, adjust the tone of an email, or even create a humorous poem from a technical document, Rewrite offers a convenient way to leverage the power of AI within the familiar environment of Notepad. The feature’s reliance on Microsoft 365 subscription for full functionality may limit its reach, but for those who have access, Rewrite represents a valuable addition to the Windows 11 experience. The potential for future enhancements and expansion of Rewrite’s capabilities remains open, suggesting that Notepad may continue to evolve beyond its traditional role as a basic text editor.