Microsoft Notepad launched in 1983 and now it’s getting an AI revamp in 2024

Microsoft's veteran Notepad app is getting the generative AI treatment. On Wednesday, Microsoft announced a new feature for Notepad called Rewrite, which lets users edit their text using an AI model. With Rewrite, users can adjust the tone, rephrase, and modify the length of their text.

Windows Notepad has been around since 1983 as a text editor for users to jot down notes and create simple text documents. Being the barebones application that it is, Notepad hasn't received much attention until recently. Just last March, Microsoft added spellcheck and autocorrect, which made us wonder why it took so long. But integrating generative AI editing and summarization skills is a fitting and more timely upgrade for the text editor.

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How to use the Notepad Rewrite tool

To use Rewrite for Notepad, highlight the text you want to change, right-click and select Rewrite. A window will pop up, giving you options to change the length, tone, or format of the text. Make your selections and click Replace. Rewrite will generate three options.

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You can also copy the text, refine the results, or cancel your selection. Previous versions are saved, so you can easily revert back if you want to. Rewrite can also be disabled in your app settings.

The barebones Notepad app can now edit text with generative AI. Credit: Microsoft

To access Rewrite for Notepad, you'll have to be signed in to your Microsoft account since it runs in the cloud.

In the same announcement, Microsoft also introduced new generative AI features for another OG app, Paint. With the latest Windows 11 update, users can use generative fill to expand or edit an image — and generative erase to remove certain objects.

Rewrite for Notepad is launching in preview to Windows 11 users in United States, France, UK, Canada, Italy, and Germany. Generative Fill is initially available to Windows Insiders testers with Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, and Generative Erase is available to all Windows 11 PCs.