(Reuters) – Microsoft (NASDAQ:) will not roll out “Recall”, an artificial intelligence-based feature that tracks computer usage, on its new PCs next week, but will instead preview it with a smaller group later, the tech giant said on Thursday, amid concerns about privacy risks.
The Recall feature tracks web browsing in voice chats, creating a history stored on the computer that the user can search when they need to remember something they did, even months later.
Recall will only be available in preview in the Windows Insider Program (WIP) in the coming weeks, and not to the general public for Copilot+ PC users on June 18, Microsoft said in a blog post.
The decision “is based on our commitment to providing a reliable, secure and reliable experience for all customers and to obtain additional feedback before making this feature available to all Copilot+ PC users,” the Redmond, Wash.-based company said.
The Copilot+ PC is a category of personal computers with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities introduced in May.
WIP is a public software testing program that allows millions of “Windows’ biggest fans” to preview future features of the operating system.
The company said it plans to make a preview version of Recall available to all Copilot+ PCs soon after receiving feedback from the WIP community.
Privacy concerns arose soon after the feature was announced, with some social media users raising concerns that it could facilitate espionage and billionaire technologist Elon Musk calling it “an episode of Black Mirror,” likening it to the Netflix (NASDAQ:) series that explores harmful impact of advanced technologies.