Microsoft’s Recall feature has been delayed. Credit: Jason Redmond/AFP via Getty Images.

Microsoft has delayed its controversial Recall feature, an AI-powered history tracker due to be built into its AI PCs, after a backlash from the public and security experts, the company said on Thursday (13 June).

The Recall feature was described by Microsoft’s executive vice-president Yusuf Medhi as giving a computer photographic memory. Recall tracked everything from voice chats to web browsing, allowing users to search for anything they did months in the past. 

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Recall will now not be widely released as part of its Copilot+ PC on 18 June and instead only be available for a preview on its Windows Insider Programme (WIP), the company said in a blog post.

Microsoft said Recall’s delay was “rooted in our commitment to providing a trusted, secure and robust experience for all customers and to seek additional feedback prior to making the feature available to all Copilot+ PC users”.

Recall is set to be made available to all Copilot+ PCs after the company has received feedback from WIP, its public software testing programme that allows “Windows’ biggest fans” to preview upcoming features. 

Simon Pardo, director of technology specialist Computer Care, called the Recall function “a concerning development, particularly from a security standpoint”.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“By compiling a user’s complete digital history across Microsoft services it creates a single point of failure that could be catastrophic for businesses,” Pardo said.

“Consolidating all these snapshots into one location creates a high-value target for attackers, potentially exposing a vast amount of sensitive information if breached,” he added.