- AI in Notepad introduces features like Smart Rewrite, which changes how you edit text.
- Disabling these features depends on your Windows version, account settings, and app permissions.
- For greater privacy and control, there are alternatives like Notepad++ that don't integrate AI or the cloud.
- Knowing your options is essential to personalizing your experience and avoiding unwanted automations.
¿AI in Notepad? Have you noticed lately that Notepad in Windows 11 seems to have a strange "intelligence" that modifies your texts or suggests automatic rewrites? Do you feel like your old-school notepad has been turned into a tool that practically thinks for you, when all you wanted to do was write without interruptions or recommendations? Don't panic: this article will clear up absolutely all your doubts about the new smart features and AI in Notepad, why they've arrived, how they affect your daily work, and, above all, what you can do to regain control by disabling what you don't want.
The shift toward artificial intelligence in Windows 11 and its native apps like Notepad has been gradual but decisive. Microsoft has made a strong commitment to integrating cloud services and automated functions. While they promise to improve productivity and offer a modern experience, they generate many questions and reservations among those who prefer simplicity and complete control over what they write. A thorough understanding of how these features work, who can use them, what consequences they have for your privacy, and, above all, the real ways to disable these smart functions is key to getting back to enjoying the editor you love, just like you used it before.
The arrival of artificial intelligence in Notepad on Windows 11: evolution or invasion?
Microsoft has decided to make Notepad a much more powerful application through artificial intelligence, a trend that has been reflected throughout all the native tools in Windows 11.. Just as Paint has received the Generative Fill feature to create and modify images with simple text descriptions, Notepad now includes capabilities like Smart Rewrite which, using AI, allows you to select text fragments and obtain automatic writing alternatives based on the tone, clarity or length you choose.
These features not only offer new possibilities for users who want to improve the quality of their writing or experiment with different ways of expressing an idea, but They represent a radical change in the nature of Notepad, moving away from its plain text-based simplicity to bring it closer to advanced word processors, but with the automation and customization of today's AI.
The integration of these capabilities depends on cloud technologies, which means that The user must sign in with a Microsoft account to use them, a condition that raises some concerns regarding privacy and the management of personal data, especially considering the processing of edited texts using artificial intelligence services.
How do Notepad's smart features work and why are they present?
Smart Rewrite is the main AI-assisted feature in Notepad, designed to facilitate the improvement of quick texts, more professional and personalized writing, and automatic adaptations based on specific parameters you choose, such as tone (formal, informal), clarity, or conciseness of the fragment. By selecting a block of text and activating "Rewrite," The system automatically generates three alternative wordings, allowing you to choose the one that suits you best or return to the original version.
According to MuyComputer, This feature is currently available on the Windows Insiders testing channels (Canary and Dev), and requires an updated version of Notepad along with a Microsoft account sign-in. Microsoft aims to gather feedback and analyze performance before rolling out these features widely.
Another of the new features that Notepad has recently received, although not directly related to AI, is the incorporation of the tab system, oriented to make it easier to work with multiple files and code snippets at the same time, very useful for those who manage lines of code, small lists or multiple notes during work sessions.
The context of artificial intelligence in Windows 11 and the Microsoft ecosystem
The leap in artificial intelligence in Notepad is not an isolated event, but part of a strategic movement led by Microsoft to Boost the Windows 11 ecosystem with automated features, cloud connectivity, and collaborative toolsThese updates affect not only Notepad and Paint, but also systems like Microsoft 365, Bing (integrated into the taskbar), Quick Assist, cloud file management, and AI-powered accessibility features.
In official Microsoft communication and specialized articles, The intention to bring the use of AI to all traditional applications is highlighted., promising improved productivity and ease of use, but without losing sight of the simplicity and accessibility that characterizes tools like Notepad.
This strategy seeks to consolidate Microsoft's position in the field of artificial intelligence, integrating it into every corner of the operating system and its applications, which could spark debates about privacy and user control.
Key aspects of privacy, data processing, and personalization
One of the big questions when talking about AI in Notepad and other native Windows 11 apps is privacy.To use smart features, you must log in with a Microsoft account, which means that certain parts of the edited content may be transmitted to external servers for automated analysis and processing.
Microsoft's terms and conditions, as well as its privacy policies, establish that data processing is carried out in accordance with security standards and for the purposes of improving services, personalization, and user experience. However, The decision to send fragments of your notes, ideas or code to the cloud to be automatically processed can be uncomfortable for many users., especially those who work with sensitive, intellectual or confidential information.
Furthermore, the very operation of these intelligent functions sometimes causes the user to lose some control over the final text, as the intervention of the AI can modify, suggest, or alter significant parts of the original content without absolute control by the author.
Can I disable all smart features and AI in Notepad?
Here we come to one of the most frequently asked questions, and also one of the most difficult to answer definitively. In standard versions of Windows 11, the option to completely disable all smart features and AI in Notepad is not implemented directly or visibly for the average user.However, there are different ways and strategies to limit or eliminate these behaviors, at least partially:
- Don't sign in with your Microsoft account: If you log into Windows with a local account, many of the cloud-related features and AI simply won't be available, so Notepad will function in the traditional way.
- Disable cloud services in Windows settings: You can review your system's privacy settings and disable the use of cloud services for native apps, thereby limiting Notepad's communication with external servers.
- Revert to previous versions of Notepad: You can reinstall a previous version of Notepad (without AI) or use an alternative application such as Notepad++, which offers advanced features but no cloud integration or AI.
- Participate in stable channels: The new smart features are available first in Insider builds (Canary and Dev). If you're using a stable version of Windows 11 and keep Notepad running without manually updating via the Microsoft Store, you can temporarily prevent these capabilities from being automatically enabled.
- Review and limit app permissions: In the advanced configuration options, you can control the permissions Notepad has to access the network, local files or the cloud, blocking the sending of data to external services.
It is important to clarify that Microsoft may modify these options and restrictions in future updates.Currently, customization and complete disabling depend on the specific version of Notepad and Windows you're using, as well as the update channels and cloud service settings you've chosen.
Opinions and controversies in forums and the community about AI in Notepad
The debate about introducing AI in Notepad and other basic Windows applications is more alive than ever in forums and social networks.Reddit, the epicenter of many technological discussions, has garnered polarized opinions: on one side, users who consider the arrival of these features unnecessary and even invasive to a tool that has historically stood out for its simplicity and lightness; on the other, advocates of the new functions who see AI as a natural progression of computing toward a more productive and adaptive environment.
The main opposing arguments point out that the AI integration can be an additional source of distractions, automatic errors, or even privacy and security issues. For those simply looking for a plain text editor to take quick notes, modify configuration files, or write code without external assistance. Many experienced users recommend alternatives such as Notepad++, Sublime Text, or specialized code editors that, while offering advanced features, don't rely on the cloud or artificial intelligence.
However, other users consider that Smart Rewriting in Notepad can be useful for those who write texts, articles or documentation and want a quick help tool, without having to resort to complex editing programs or external assistants such as ChatGPT.
The role of AI in text editing and its technical and legal implications
One cannot analyze the integration of AI into Notepad without paying attention to the global phenomenon of generative models, the training of natural language algorithms, and the delicate issue of copyright over automatically processed texts and data. According to Enrique Dans' analysis, AI learns and suggests alternative writing options from vast databases, sometimes obtained through web scraping., which adds another layer of complexity and potential legal conflicts, especially when the texts are protected by copyright.
Furthermore, there is a lively debate about whether AI-generated creations should be subject to copyright and whether the true "author" of a text is the user who provides the prompts or the machine itself. In the context of Notepad, the user remains the one who makes the final decision about which text to accept, but The dependence on cloud services and external processing means that the issue is no longer purely technical but rather enters the legal and privacy realm..
Options and recommendations for those looking for simple alternatives
If your priority is to maintain a Clean, fast text editing environment without smart features or AI, you have several options that are highly rated by developers and advanced users:
- Best Free Video Editors for Windows: alternative for those who do not use Notepad for editing tasks.
Each of these editors has specific advantages depending on your workflow, resource needs, and customization or collaboration preferences.
The evolution of text editors: toward customization, collaboration, and smart integration (optional for now)
The current landscape of text editors is not limited to Notepad and its smart features. Tools like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, and Atom have revolutionized the way programmers and content creators manage their projects.Visual Studio Code is today the benchmark for its integration with Git, terminal, extreme customization, and extensions for almost any language and need. Sublime Text stands out for its minimalism and speed, while Atom is the preferred option for those seeking simultaneous collaboration and absolute adaptability.
In any case, the trend across all editors is the progressive integration of automated features, AI, and smart assistants ranging from auto-completion to code rewriting, debugging, project management, and more. The key is that the user can control and decide what level of automation or intelligence is allowed in their workflow., without ever losing the option of working locally, directly and privately.
Alternatives for developers and creatives who do want AI, but under control
For those who do want to take advantage of the benefits of AI in code and text editing, but want maximum control and flexibility, there are solutions such as Text formats and Markdown in NotepadThis tool enables AI integration into controlled environments and can be complemented with specific extensions for environments like Visual Studio Code, where control is greater.
El YOLO mode (You Only Live Once) for Advanced AI Assistants demonstrates how users can better manage these tools in their development environment, setting limits and permissions according to their needs.
What about “smart” forms and controls in HTML and the use of smart attributes?
The rise of artificial intelligence has also had an impact on web development and the structure of HTML forms. Labels like <input type="email"> activate automatic validations, autocorrection and smart suggestions in most modern browsers and mobile devices. While not AI in the strictest sense, it does involve a degree of automation and "assistance" that improves the user experience, but can also be perceived as intrusive in certain contexts.
The key difference is that in web development, Smart features are easily configurable or disabled through the HTML code itself or browser settings., while in Notepad and native desktop applications the presence of AI depends on decisions outside the user and is sometimes governed by Microsoft's update or privacy policies.
What if the trend toward artificial intelligence spreads to all programs and services?
According to experts, we are in a transitional era in which big tech companies are introducing AI into everything from text editors to messaging apps, operating systems, search engines, and collaborative tools. The user must stay informed to adapt their workflow to new developments, decide their level of acceptance of AI and always keep alternatives available. to protect your privacy and ensure that your data is not processed outside your control.
Being clear about your rights, possible configurations, and options for returning to a traditional environment is essential to avoid feeling passively swept away by trends that don't always respond to each person's specific needs.
Things to keep in mind if you want to disable (or take advantage of) AI in Notepad and other editors
We leave you this article on how recover WordPad in Windows 11. It's a simple alternative to avoid AI functions in basic editors. If after all this you need to download NotePad or more information, we leave you its Microsoft official page.
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