Microsoft adds text-to-image AI to Paint and upgrades Notepad, signaling a shift toward everyday, child-friendly uses of artificial intelligence in Windows.
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| New AI features in Microsoft Paint and Notepad highlight a strategy to normalize generative AI through familiar tools rather than standalone apps. Image: CH |
Tech Desk — January 27, 2026:
Microsoft’s decision to give Paint the ability to generate images from text—and to further enhance Notepad with faster, GPT-powered writing tools—reveals more than a simple software update. It reflects a deliberate strategy to make artificial intelligence feel ordinary, accessible and embedded in daily digital life, rather than a specialized or intimidating technology.
The new AI Coloring Book feature in Paint allows users to create images or printable coloring pages by typing short descriptions of scenes or objects. For example, a prompt such as “fluffy cat sitting on a donut” produces multiple visual interpretations in different styles. While Paint has long been associated with basic drawing and early creativity, this update transforms it into a gateway for generative AI, particularly aimed at children and casual users.
By framing the feature around creativity and entertainment, Microsoft is positioning AI as a playful collaborator rather than a replacement for human skill. The company says the tool can help develop children’s imagination, but it also serves a broader purpose: introducing prompt-based creation at an early age. This subtle exposure may shape how younger users understand creativity in an AI-driven world, where ideas are increasingly translated into outputs through text instructions.
Access to the feature is currently limited. It is only available to Copilot Plus PC users and is being tested through the Windows Insider Canary and Dev channels. This controlled rollout suggests Microsoft is proceeding cautiously, gathering feedback while managing concerns around performance, content quality and user expectations—especially given the sensitivity around AI tools designed for children.
Alongside Paint, Microsoft is also upgrading Notepad, one of Windows’ simplest and most widely used applications. The AI-powered Write, Rewrite and Summarize features now respond faster and allow users to interact with previews before final results are generated. These improvements address a key barrier to AI adoption: friction. By reducing waiting times and making AI feel more responsive, Microsoft increases the likelihood that users will incorporate these tools into routine tasks like note-taking and drafting.
These updates align closely with comments from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who has emphasized the importance of focusing on AI’s practical and social value. Rather than highlighting AI as a breakthrough reserved for professionals or enterprises, Microsoft is embedding it into familiar software that millions already use. The message is clear: AI is becoming a background utility, not a headline feature.
Still, the strategy is not without questions. Introducing AI-generated visuals and text into foundational tools raises concerns about originality, dependency and digital literacy. As AI handles more of the “first draft” of creativity, educators and parents may question how this influences learning and creative development.
For Microsoft, however, the direction is unmistakable. By quietly transforming Paint and Notepad, the company is redefining what basic software means in the AI era. The future of artificial intelligence, Microsoft appears to be betting, will not arrive through dramatic new apps—but through familiar tools doing far more than they ever did before.