Microsoft might soon release auto file-edit features for software and hardware devices

It could be a game-changer, but it can also be risky.

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auto file edit

Microsoft recently filed a patent describing a technology that uses the user’s input to automatically edit files. It is similar to AI, especially Windows Copilot or Microsoft 365 Copilot, and it’s natural to wonder: could this technology be a future Copilot feature?

It might, as it will greatly reduce the time spent to create and edit content, as the document says.

The technique satisfies various technical objectives. For instance, the technique reduces the amount of time and labor that is required to create file content. The rechnique also facilitates the generation of program content that is free from errors and that satisfies various computer performance metrics.

While Windows Copilot is quite limited at the moment, this technology mimics it and improves upon it to such a degree that it learns from all past editing experiences to automatically suggest editing every time a new file comes in contact with a device (such as files obtained from a USB stick).

Auto file edit: How would it work?

  1. The system creates current context information, which includes an input message and selected file content. The input message describes what the user wants to do (their editing objective), and the selected file content is the part of the file that the user wants to change.
  2. The system then asks a pattern-completion engine to generate edit information based on this context information. The edit information describes the changes that should be made to the selected file content to achieve the user’s objective.auto file edit
  3. The pattern-completion engine uses a machine-trained model that’s been trained on revision history information. This model can predict what changes need to be made based on past edits.
  4. The model is trained using various tests to make sure that the edit information it generates is correct, meets performance metrics, and achieves the user’s editing objectives.

The document explains how this technology can be integrated into multiple devices, software, and operating systems, effectively enabling a new era for file management.

The above-summarized technology can be manifested in various types of systems, devices, components, methods, computer-readable storage media, data structures, graphical users interface presentations, articles of manufacture, and so on.

As you can see, the auto file edit technology might not just be a future Copilot feature, but a feature integrated into Windows, Microsoft Teams, and basically all the Microsoft 365 apps. But even then, it can be patented to work on readable storage data, such as external hard drives, SD cards, and so on.

This would make it challenging to keep the original files intact unless Microsoft would come up with a tweak for it.

More about the topics: file management tools, microsoft