Microsoft is introducing 'Hybrid Intelligence' to its Copilot system, allowing AI agents to access local files and perform tasks across the Windows operating system.

Microsoft has unveiled a new 'Hybrid Intelligence' framework for Windows that enables Copilot to access local files and execute tasks across the operating system. The system uses a mix of local and cloud-based AI models to manage requests, with local processing handled by Microsoft's Execution Containers (MXCs).

Hybrid Intelligence Functionality

The new system utilizes a model router to determine whether a task should be processed by local models or cloud-based alternatives, such as OpenAI's GPT-6 or Anthropic's Claude. Microsoft intends for local models to handle privacy-sensitive or simple tasks, while more complex requests are offloaded to the cloud. To support this, Microsoft is extending its Windows ML inference framework to include support for Llama.cpp.

Agentic Capabilities and Security

During a demonstration, Microsoft showed the AI agent searching folders to locate tax documents, renaming and zipping the files, and drafting an email to an accountant. Microsoft EVP of Windows and Devices Pavan Davuluri stated that the use of MXCs, which apply fine-grained permissions at runtime, makes Windows a secure platform for these agents. The company emphasized that Copilot will only access files when explicitly requested by the user.

Windows Search and Availability

In addition to Copilot updates, Microsoft is introducing an AI-enhanced search experience for Windows 11. This feature will allow users to perform system actions directly from the search bar, such as adjusting microphone volume, toggling dark mode, or sending texts. The search enhancements are scheduled for release this fall, while the hybrid intelligence features for Copilot are expected to roll out over the coming months.