Windows PowerToys strikes again with a new update, which introduces a big change to how ChatGPT works through the Windows 11 operating system.
Windows Central reported that PowerToys Widget will introduce a new plugin to allow direct access to the Open AI-based app without having to launch a browser first. This is a huge advance as it makes ChatGPT more accessible for Windows 11. It also allows users to bypass any aggressive promotion of the Microsoft Edge browser, which has become a notable problem in recent years.
The developer of the ChatGPT plugin, Simone Franco, is behind the plugin and has posted the process via the GitHub page for PowerToys. The plugin integrates via PowerToys Run, a file, folder and app search launcher. Although it is still in its infancy and there are many adjustments to be made before it is ready, it is a promising tool that allows users to go directly from desktop to ChatGPT.
Edge and Bing don't stand a chance
Microsoft has gotten more aggressive in promoting its Edge browser and, by extension, the Bing AI app that comes with it. For example, after a browser update, Edge will show you a full page ad asking you to make Edge your default browser.
And with a recent update to Windows 11 that adds an AI-powered search box to the taskbar, it's turning Bing into an advertisement, forcing people to use Microsoft's default search engine. However, with this new tool, users can completely bypass the forced ads and go directly to the app they want. In this case ChatGPT.
Of course, it's not perfect, because you need an OpenAI account and a randomly generated OpenAI API key, but both steps only need to be done once, and then you have almost instant access to the AI chatbot tool. And even better, you only need one hotkey to summon it, making it even more convenient.
PowerToys Releases Great Windows Updates
So it's almost ironic that a widget that runs through Microsoft's operating system helps you fix Microsoft's operating system problems, although it helps that PowerToys is an open source toolset rather than a browser or build engine. search.
As such, this isn't the only time we've gotten useful new functionality through the widget. For example, in February 2023, it introduced Windows 11 and Windows 10's much-needed "paste plain text" option, which works in any app that runs PowerToys.
Another great feature, introduced in February 2022, was the mouse cross tool that allows users to quickly find the mouse cursor using the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+Alt+P). And included in that same update, two new File Explorer plugins have dramatically increased the number of file types supported by the preview pane.