Windows Updates Notepad and Paint With AI Tools

Microsoft is updating Windows 11’s Notepad and Paint applications with new artificial intelligence features that change how millions of users will work with text and images.

For users in the Windows Insider Canary and Dev Channels, these updates introduce AI-powered tools that go beyond the traditional offline experience most people expect from these apps.

These additions significantly change Notepad’s traditional security model. To use the new AI features, users must sign in with a Microsoft account, shifting the app from a fully offline text editor to an authenticated, cloud-connected service.

However, according to endpoint protection best practices, security researchers warn that this transition introduces new data exposure risks, particularly in enterprise environments.

When AI features are used, text content is transmitted to Microsoft servers. This data may include sensitive insights such as credentials, personal data, or proprietary business content.

From an endpoint security operations perspective, this move weakens the isolation that once protected Notepad. It also raises compliance concerns with regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, particularly where data residency requirements apply.

The added connectivity also bypasses traditional network segmentation controls that previously helped secure air-gapped or restricted systems.

In parallel, Microsoft has updated Paint (version 11.2512.191.0), introducing a new AI-powered Coloring Book feature that generates images from text prompts.

This capability is limited to Copilot+ PCs equipped with neural processing units (NPUs), highlighting both hardware-based security boundaries and constraints on enterprise adoption.

Requiring users to sign in with a Microsoft account introduces new identity-related security risks. Security experts also warn that image-generation features could be misused, although Microsoft says it has added content filters to help prevent abuse.

Even smaller changes, such as the new fill tolerance slider in Paint, reflect how deeply AI is being integrated into everyday tools.

While these updates showcase Microsoft’s AI-first vision for Windows, each new integration point expands the operating system’s attack surface.

As these features move from Insider previews toward broader release, cybersecurity professionals are urging organizations to assess risks before deploying, particularly in environments that handle sensitive or classified information.