Windows 11 introduces two free AI powered features for the Paint graphics editor, known as NPU and Copilot+. These tools are designed to run on devices that do not carry PC certification, expanding access across the United States and Canada. The change reflects a broader push to bring intelligent editing capabilities to a wide range of hardware, enabling more users to enhance photos without needing high end machines. The new tools are integrated with the standard Paint interface, so existing workflows can be augmented without learning a new app. This move signals Microsoft’s intent to democratize AI assisted editing across consumer hardware.
Paint now features Productive Removal and Background Removal. The first function allows for removing a selected object by filling the empty space with the surrounding background, while the second eliminates the background behind the object altogether. These tools activate automatically when an object in the image is selected, making the editing process intuitive and fast for everyday tasks. Productive Removal focuses on keeping the scene coherent by seamlessly blending the erased area with nearby textures, while Background Removal targets the broader canvas, leaving only the subject in place for further processing or replacement. The combination gives painters and photographers a flexible toolkit within Paint that adapts to a range of image cleaning needs.
To use the first function, a user selects the object to delete and taps the eraser icon with star accents in the appearing menu. To remove the background from the entire image, the corresponding button on the top toolbar should be pressed. If the goal is to remove the background only in a specific portion of the image, one would select that portion and then choose the background removal option on the right side of the eraser from the drop down menu. The process is designed to be quick and repeatable, letting editors apply precise changes without leaving Paint.
Previously, all of Paint’s AI features were exclusive to computers with Snapdragon X ARM processors, but they are now available on devices without Copilot+ PC support. This broadened accessibility is particularly meaningful for users in the United States and Canada who rely on a wider range of hardware, from entry level laptops to mid range desktops. The expansion aligns with a growing trend in consumer software that seeks to bring advanced AI capabilities to more owners, not just those with top tier machines or premium configurations. The effect is a more inclusive editing experience that still integrates tightly with the familiar Paint interface.
According to user feedback, the speed of these tools depends on the performance of the computer, and it can take an average of 40 to 80 seconds to delete an object, which may feel slow on modest devices. AI processing may also struggle with complex backgrounds and high resolution images, leading to longer wait times or imperfect results in challenging scenes. The computation demands are tied to the device’s processor, memory, and graphics capabilities, so experience can vary from one machine to another. Rest assured, ongoing improvements in AI models and Windows optimization aim to reduce lag and increase reliability across a broader spectrum of hardware over time.
The move to open AI editing features beyond high end configurations reflects a commitment to making modern photo cleanup and composition accessible to a larger audience. It enables creators, hobbyists, and professionals who work with products, portraits, or travel photos to experiment with automated tools that save time and refine results without needing additional software. While some scenes still pose challenges, the added capabilities empower more users to perform precise edits quickly in a familiar environment, accelerating workflows and enabling more experimentation with creative ideas.