• 2 min read
Copilot may diagnose your PC — while using 1GB RAM
Microsoft is testing PC Insights for Copilot to answer hardware questions in plain language, but the app can already use up to 1GB of RAM at idle.
Image: iXBT
Microsoft is testing a new PC Insights feature for Copilot that could let users check a PC’s health without digging through Task Manager or Windows settings. Instead, users would be able to ask questions in plain language and get answers about performance, storage, and hardware status.
According to Windows Latest, PC Insights can answer questions such as whether there is enough free space to install a 100 GB game. Copilot would check available storage and return a direct answer. The feature is also expected to report on CPU usage, battery health, and other system metrics.
A Microsoft support document spotted by Windows Latest says the feature can analyze:
- CPU usage
- RAM and GPU load
- Free disk space
- Folder sizes
Copilot would also be able to see connected USB devices, external drives, printers, webcams, and the status of Bluetooth and Wi‑Fi connections.
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Microsoft says PC Insights will work only with user permission. For each hardware-related request, Copilot will need access to PC data unless the user has already enabled a persistent permission mode. At this stage, the assistant will not be able to open individual files, and it is limited to identifying possible issues rather than fixing them.
The catch is that Copilot itself may be part of the resource problem. In testing by Windows Latest, the current Copilot app could use up to 1 GB of RAM while idle. It also takes up extra storage because it ships with its own copy of Microsoft Edge.
That could make PC Insights useful for less technical users, while raising a basic question about whether the assistant diagnosing a slow PC is also helping slow it down.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via iXBT
