Microsoft has been heavily involved in artificial intelligence in recent years, and may eventually add it to every other application used on Windows 11. A Windows feature “Studio Effects” may soon have new artificial intelligence special effects that can turn your video screen or even the characters in the video screen into watercolor paintings, cartoons or even illustrations. With the help of the magic of artificial intelligence, you can even see your video screen transformed into these special effects instantly.
Windows Studio Effects debuts in 2022 and works best on new hardware equipped with NPUs (Neural Processing Units). Studio Effects is designed for hybrid work, so if you use Microsoft Teams or other apps to communicate, give Studio Effects a try.
As the name suggests, Studio Effects are similar to filters, and they exist to make your voice or expression look its best during a video call. Currently the functionality is limited, you can only use it to automatically adjust the camera frame to keep you in focus. Or you can blur the background.
Two other existing features are eye contact and voice focus. Both features ensure that you can focus during video calls and hear the other party clearly. However, Microsoft is looking to take the feature to the next level with at least three new artificial intelligence effects.
These features will likely debut outside of the Windows 11 24H2 update, previewed at the March 21 event along with AI File Explorer (not to be confused with File Explorer) and other features.
So, how do these special effects work? While the details are still unclear, one of the special effects, “Video Looks Like a Watercolor Painting,” will make your video look like it was painted with water and paint. So if you’re taking a picture of your dog playing in the yard, this filter will make it look like a watercolor painting, which is very artistic.
Likewise, cartoon animation effects can turn your video into a cartoon by reducing everything to bold colors and lines, paired with exaggerated movements and vibrant colors, making the video super fun.
The third effect, “Illustration Drawing,” makes the video look like it was drawn with a pencil.
In addition, Microsoft is about to switch Studio Effects to the system tray in the cumulative update of Windows 11.
Now that we have talked about interesting filters, we might as well review that Microsoft is working hard to build the Live Canvas function supported by NPU into drawing. This could be another great feature, the drawings you make with the drawing pad will be instantly improved by artificial intelligence.
Likewise, Microsoft is testing an advanced version of Copilot with automated controls, including the ability to use artificial intelligence to move files or folders.
