Microsoft’s August 2026 Windows 11 update adds nine AI components, including a removable image‑generation feature, and explains how users can delete or disable individual components.
Microsoft’s August 2026 Windows 11 update introduces nine built‑in AI components, ranging from a new image‑generation tool to enhanced voice assistants, and gives users the option to uninstall or disable any of them individually.
What’s new in the AI suite
The update adds a dedicated Image Creator that can generate pictures from text prompts, a Chat Assistant integrated into the taskbar, and upgraded Copilot features for Office apps. Other components include AI‑enhanced search, predictive typing, background noise suppression, automatic photo tagging, smart wallpaper rotation, and a system‑wide summarizer.
How to remove or disable a component
Each AI module appears as a separate entry in Settings → Apps → Optional features. Users can select any component, click “Uninstall” to remove it completely, or toggle the “Allow this feature” switch to keep it installed but inactive.
- Open Settings and navigate to Apps → Optional features
- Find the AI component you want to manage
- Choose “Uninstall” to delete it, or toggle the switch to disable it
- Restart the device for changes to take effect
Why Microsoft offers granular control
Microsoft says the ability to delete or disable individual AI features addresses privacy concerns and performance preferences, allowing users on lower‑end hardware to conserve resources while still benefiting from other AI enhancements.
We want users to decide which AI tools fit their workflow, not force a one‑size‑fits‑all solution, said a Microsoft spokesperson in the update notes.
The new components are delivered through the same cumulative update mechanism as previous Windows releases, ensuring they receive security patches and bug fixes alongside the core OS.
For a detailed walkthrough of the nine AI components and step‑by‑step removal instructions, see NotebookCheck coverage of Windows 11’s AI update.