'Paint' and 'Notepad' are two of Microsoft's oldest and most iconic software applications, included with Windows for decades.
Paint has long been considered the gateway to digital art. Launched in 1985 with Windows 1.0 as "Paintbrush," it was a pared-down image editor, and was the very thing that introduced many users to the concept of digital art, even if that art was limited to basic lines and colors.
It was the first ubiquitous image editing available to everyone, especially as Windows became more popular in homes and schools.
For people who didn’t have access to expensive software like Adobe Photoshop, Paint offered a way to draw, manipulate images, and experiment with digital creativity.
As for Notepad, it has long been considered the backbone of text editing.. Also launched with Windows 1.0, it was one of the most basic text editors around. It was designed to handle plain text without any formatting, and its simplicity made it incredibly lightweight and fast.
Notepad was the key tool for coders, even in 2024 in Windows 11, Notepad remains one of the most accessible way to edit codes and configure files quickly.
The two are unsung heroes.
As years past, none of the two undergone significant changes because their barebone offerings are just what everyone needs.
Until AI comes into play.
In a blog post, Microsoft announced that it's giving the two apps an AI treatment it thinks they deserve.
First of, Paint is getting an AI-powered generative fill feature.
To use this feature, user can select the 'Selection' tool in Paint's toolbar to make a Rectangle or Free-form selection.
After selecting an area, a small menu will appear near the selection. Choose the 'Generative Fill' option, then use the text box to describe what they'd like to add. Click 'Create' to generate the changes.
Users can always click 'Try Again' if they want to see more. They can also refine their selection, or adjust the text prompt.
They can use the arrow buttons to browse through different generated options, and once they find one they like, they can select 'Keep' to apply the change to their Paint canvas.
Next at Paint, is a generative erase feature.
To use this, users can select it from the left side of the canvas while the eraser tool is active.
After selecting the generative erase brush, users can apply it manually over one or multiple areas of the canvas to select the content they want to remove.
Options inclide: 'Add area to erase' to select more, and 'Reduce area to erase' to reduce their selection.
Clicking apply will automatically remove the object.
Users can also use the rectangular or free-from selection tools to specify an area that they want to remove with the generative erase command in the small menu pop up anchored to the selection or the right-click menu.
Moving on, it's Notepad's turn.
To use this AI-powered feature, users can simply select the text they want to rewrite, to then right-click and choose the 'Rewrite' option from the menu bar, or use the Ctrl + I keyboard shortcut.
Notepad can then generate three variations of the rewritten text for users to choose from.
Users can select one of the three, or have Notepad generate more by clicking on 'Retry'. Users can refine the output by customizing the rewrite settings.
Options include the ability to make the text longer or shorter, or modifying the tone or format.
"The previous versions are still preserved in the current dialog, so you can easily revert to earlier versions if needed. If you prefer, you can disable the rewrite feature in app settings," said Microsoft.
Microsoft’s infusion of AI into these applications is part of their broader initiative to integrate AI across Windows and Office.
With Paint, the AI might help enhance creative tasks like generating images or adding effects, while Notepad could benefit from text prediction, summarization, or language support, bringing these classic tools into the modern age.
It’s a fascinating move, making "Paint" and "Notepad" more relevant and useful than ever—tools that were once simple are now potentially very capable with the help of AI.