Microsoft has simply launched its first separate keyboard to be fitted with its new AI key, which launches the corporate’s Copilot assistant whenever you press it. The brand new key on the Microsoft Floor Professional Flex Keyboard marks the primary time the corporate has launched a brand new keyboard button because the Home windows and Menu keys appeared with the launch of Home windows 95. There’s an enormous catch with this Microsoft AI keyboard, nonetheless, and that’s the value.
Sooner or later, it’s fairly doable that every one the very best gaming keyboards will include the brand new AI Copilot key, however in the mean time Microsoft is anticipating you to pay an unlimited worth of $449 for its premium keyboard, which is designed for use with the corporate’s Floor laptops. That’s rather more than the price of a Steam Deck LCD, though at the least that worth additionally buys you a Floor Slim Pen, which will be recharged within the groove on the prime of the keyboard.
Microsoft first introduced its plans to introduce a brand new Home windows AI key at the beginning of 2024, however whereas we’ve seen laptops with the brand new key, that is the primary separate keyboard we’ve seen with it. The brand new key options the Copilot brand, and takes the place of the best Home windows key on a common keyboard. That’s not the one new key on this keyboard both – there’s additionally a mute key to shortly flip your microphone on and off, and a screengrab key that immediately launches the Home windows snipping software.
To its credit score, the Microsoft Floor Professional Flex Keyboard does at the least embody mechanical switches for that worth, regardless of its low profile, and it additionally has a built-in haptic touchpad. The corporate claims the latter is a boon for accessibility, because it means you don’t have to make use of your fingertips to function it. As a substitute, you even have the choice to make use of different elements of your limbs, which Microsoft states consists of your palm or residual limbs.
The keyboard is suitable with Microsoft’s Floor Professional 8 and 9, in addition to the Floor Professional 10 for Enterprise and Floor Professional eleventh Version fashions. It may not be a PC gaming keyboard, however its structure is an indication of what’s to come back. Microsoft has mentioned it plans to make the brand new key necessary for brand spanking new OEM Home windows 11 laptops, and it’s solely a matter of time now earlier than it begins showing on desktop gaming keyboards too.
For those who’re looking out for a brand new gaming keyboard, be sure to additionally try our full information to the very best wi-fi mechanical keyboard, the place we take you thru all of our present favourite choices.
