The company plans to release Recall as a beta-only program in order to address security concerns and ensure a high-quality and secure user experience.

Recall is a highly anticipated feature of Copilot+ that essentially acts as a "photographic memory" for users' PCs. It continuously takes screenshots of users' activities every few seconds, allowing them to search through the images based on text or picture content.

Initially, Microsoft had intended to enable Recall on all Copilot+ PCs from the start. However, security researchers and a concerned customer base raised privacy issues, emphasizing that the screenshots and text were easily accessible in the Windows AppData folder. This raised concerns about potential unauthorized access to sensitive user data, including financial information.

In response to these concerns, Microsoft has made some significant changes. Firstly, the company will now require users to use Windows Hello to access the Recall feature. Additionally, users will have to undergo a Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security check before accessing the files. These measures aim to enhance user privacy and prevent unauthorized access to the screenshot data.

To further address security issues and ensure the highest standards of quality, Microsoft has decided to release Recall as a beta-only program. Initially, only members of the Windows Insider Program will have access to the feature. The company has promised to provide further instructions in an upcoming blog post, specifically addressing how WIP members can access Recall.

It is important to note that Recall will be restricted to the new Copilot+ PCs due to the NPU hardware requirements. Microsoft has stated that Copilot+ requires an NPU with at least 40 TOPS (Trillion Operations Per Second) to be eligible for all the latest AI features. However, non-Copilot+ PC users who are eager to access the Recall feature can use a program called TotalRecall. Although it may not offer the same level of performance as the dedicated NPU, it still provides access to the feature.

While Microsoft assures users that Recall will be released soon, no specific timeline has been provided. The company is committed to addressing security concerns and ensuring a safe and reliable user experience. This delays the highly anticipated feature but ultimately aims to deliver a superior product.

As technology advances, it is crucial for companies to prioritize user privacy and security. Microsoft's decision to delay Recall and implement additional security measures demonstrates its dedication to protecting user data and maintaining a high level of trust with its customers.