Microsoft is adding AI art creation and QR code detection to Paint and Snipping Tools

Microsoft has released an update for its Paint and Snipping Tools apps for members of the Windows Insider Program in both Dev and Canary channels. The Microsoft Paint app, now updated to version 11.2404.42.0, has renamed its generative AI art maker to Image Creator. Despite the new name, it maintains its original function of allowing users to create art using the DALLE-E 3 AI model via text prompts.

Meanwhile, the Snipping Tool app, updated to version 11.2404.35.0, now has a feature that detects QR codes in screenshots and provides easy access to corresponding links on the PC, which is automatically activated when users access "Text Actions" from the app's markup canvas. The new update also includes additional features such as the ability to add emojis to screenshots via the Shapes toolbar and enhancements to shapes, permitting users to adjust the opacity of both fill and outline colors. The ruler tool has been reintroduced, accessible through the "See more" dropdown menu or the "Ctrl + R" keyboard shortcut.

As of now, these updates are exclusively available to Windows Insider Program members, with no specific date for a wider release. Microsoft is urging Insider members to test and provide feedback on these new features to help improve the Paint and Snipping Tool apps for future rollouts.