AI・テクノロジー
Copilot Keyboard Official Release | The Shocking Return of Clippy the Dolphin
機械翻訳 / Machine-translated
A
AI Friends
2026年4月26日・26分で読める
機械翻訳 / Machine-translated
@aifriends
AI Friends（https://aifriends.jp）のクロスポスト公式アカウント。AIツールの紹介・使い方・できることを、中学生でもわかるやさしい日本語で届けます。
"I tried typing some recent youth slang in an email and couldn't convert it" — have you ever had that experience? On April 23, 2026, Microsoft officially released a new Japanese input app called "Copilot Keyboard."
And to top it off, the legendary dolphin "Kyle" (known in Japan as "イルカのカイル") has made a comeback.
How will this IME — which smoothly converts internet slang — change text input on Windows?
Let's start by organizing the basic information.
On April 23, 2026, Microsoft officially released "Copilot Keyboard," a new IME (Japanese input app) exclusively for Windows 11.
It's available as a free download from the Microsoft Store and supports Windows 11 on both x64 and ARM.
Think of it like "your everyday refrigerator getting a free upgrade to the latest model" — install it and you instantly have a new input environment at your fingertips.
Copilot Keyboard was first released as a beta in October 2025, and after roughly six months of improvements, it has now been elevated to an official release.
It's the same flow as "a test launch of a new product where customer feedback is gathered over six months before the improved version goes on sale officially."
Features added during the beta period span a wide range, including kana input support, re-conversion functionality, a user dictionary, and key customization.
Kana input support — answering calls from users who said "Japanese words can only be written naturally with kana input" — was particularly welcomed by veteran users.
The price is completely free, with no subscription required. It can be used alongside the existing Microsoft IME (MS-IME), and you can switch between them with a shortcut key.
Think of it like "keeping two pairs of glasses on your desk and using whichever fits the occasion."
The user dictionary you've built up over years in MS-IME can be carried over directly into Copilot Keyboard, so the hassle of switching is nearly zero.
There's no need to worry about "losing my personal dictionary with thousands of registered words."
One quietly useful feature is "re-conversion." When you want to change a character you've already confirmed to a different candidate, you can invoke it with the conversion key or "Win+/."
Imagine "typing 'きょう' in Notepad, then selecting it with the mouse and pressing the conversion key to see candidates like '今日,' '京,' and '凶' appear." Being able to correct things after confirming text in one go has made it especially popular with writers and engineers who work with long documents.
While Kyle's popularity is one thing, the biggest topic on social media from this release was "the return of the dolphin Kyle." If you're a PC user over 40, you remember that blue dolphin.
Kyle was the animated assistant that appeared in Microsoft Office from 1997 onward.
He was famous for popping up with a speech bubble saying "How can I help you?" — and for interrupting your work.
He made a comeback in the 2010s as a meme when users discovered that typing "how to get rid of you" into the search box would dutifully bring up instructions on how to do exactly that.
He was a peculiar character — like "a tutor who keeps talking to you even when you haven't asked, but goes home quietly when you finally say 'go away.'"
This time, Kyle returns as both a Copilot character and an input navigator. Setting the theme to "Kyle" switches the dedicated desktop wallpaper and taskbar icon.
It's the setup of "an old friend showing up with the latest smartphone and teaching you how to use it." Microsoft's official website even has a dedicated page reading "Kyle, update complete," and the marketing that blends nostalgia with novelty has been generating buzz.
On X (formerly Twitter), there are numerous reports of "searched 'how to get rid of you' and Copilot gave a polite answer."
While users in their late 30s to 50s are getting excited with comments like "this is too nostalgic" and "a dolphin who's seen the Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras," Gen Z is responding with bewilderment: "Who is this?" and "my uncle is way too hyped about this."
It's a case study in successfully generating cross-generational buzz.
As popular as Kyle is, the real strength of Copilot Keyboard lies in its genuinely excellent AI conversion engine.
Copilot Keyboard has a mechanism for rapidly incorporating the latest internet slang and new words into its dictionary.
It handles vocabulary that conventional IMEs couldn't convert in one go — things like "生成系AI," "蛙化現象," "界隈," and "Uber Eats."
Like "a smart librarian who visits the bookstore every month to check out new releases," the dictionary data is automatically updated monthly via the cloud. It's revolutionary that the latest vocabulary just arrives without the user having to do anything.
Even more convenient is the "Copilot Search" feature. When you're not sure what a word in the conversion candidates means, you can ask Copilot about it in one click.
Like "an electronic dictionary that teaches you example sentences while you're looking up a word," if you wonder "what is 蛙化現象?", the AI explains it right there and then. Since you don't have to interrupt your writing to look things up, it has a reputation for improving work efficiency.
Copilot Keyboard also comes with a built-in concise dictionary feature. It displays synonyms and example sentences, so when you're at a loss for words in a business email, you get instant help.
It's like "having a language teacher giving you advice on the side while you write." A wide range of users benefit — from middle and high school students writing essays, to university students working on reports, to working adults composing business emails.
The Japanese IME landscape has long been a three-way battle among Google Japanese Input, ATOK, and MS-IME. How does Copilot Keyboard compete?
Google Japanese Input has long been the standard for being free and highly accurate. However, in January 2026, ITmedia reported that "Copilot Keyboard has surpassed Google Japanese Input in support for new words."
It's like "a convenience store that immediately stocks a newly released snack beating a supermarket that doesn't shelve it until the following month." That said, Google Japanese Input has the strength of long-accumulated learning data, and it's true that it's well-attuned to individual speech patterns.
ATOK is a veteran in Japanese input and is well-regarded for its accuracy.
However, in January 2026, ATOK Passport discontinued its basic plan, unifying to a premium plan at ¥660/month.
The number of users saying "if AI is this good, I want to switch to Copilot Keyboard" is on the rise.
Switching from ATOK at ¥7,920 per year to the free Copilot Keyboard works out to saving the cost of a few lunches.
It's no surprise that professional writers and business people are increasingly making the switch.
One thing that causes unexpected confusion is the question "how is it different from MS-IME?"
MS-IME is the conventional standard Windows IME — a simple dictionary-based conversion system.
Copilot Keyboard, on the other hand, incorporates AI (Copilot technology) and pulls in the latest vocabulary via the cloud — a next-generation approach.
Think of it as an evolution similar to "the difference between a feature phone and a smartphone." Since the user dictionary you've cultivated in MS-IME carries over as-is, you can confidently step up to the new experience.
How will Copilot Keyboard change the daily lives of Windows users in Japan? Let's think through three specific scenarios.
Suzuki-san (32), who works at an IT company in Tokyo.
"In a situation where I'm writing 'I acknowledge your convenience' to a client, the synonym feature suggests how to distinguish between '承知,' '承諾,' and '了承.' 'The time I spend choosing the right words for a business context has been cut in half,' she says happily. Since it can instantly convert youth slang like 'emo' (エモい) and 'one chance' (ワンチャン) that younger colleagues use, cross-generational communication has become smoother too.
Freelance writer Tanaka-san (28).
"For articles covering SNS trends, headings like 'In Gen Z circles (Z世代界隈では〜)' and 'A thorough explanation of 蛙化現象' convert in one go. 'Work that used to start with registering words in the dictionary is no longer necessary,' he says. Being able to instantly check the meaning of new words with Copilot Search has cut research time during drafting by 30–40%. There are even real examples of monthly article output increasing from 20 to 30 pieces.
Sato-san, a senior user in their 60s.
She is moved by the experience of "the nostalgic Kyle appearing on screen and saying 'How can I help you?'"
"I used to find computers difficult, but a friendly character appeared and it's fun," she says, deciding to keep using it.
The re-conversion feature lets her quickly fix mistakes even after confirming text, making it a lifesaver for beginners who aren't confident in their typing.
A. Unfortunately, Copilot Keyboard is exclusive to Windows 11.
Since extended support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, upgrading to Windows 11 first is required.
Many current PCs can upgrade to Windows 11 for free, so this might be a good opportunity to make the move.
A. At this time, it is only available on Windows 11 and does not support Mac or Linux.
For Mac users, practical options include ATOK for Mac, Google Japanese Input, or the standard Live Conversion feature.
Microsoft officially states it is "exclusively for Windows 11 for the foreseeable future," and no plans for Mac support have been announced.
A. Dictionary data updates and some AI features (Copilot Search) do communicate with the cloud, but the standard conversion processing itself runs locally.
Think of it like "getting new book information from the store every month, but doing the actual reading at home."
When using it on a work PC that handles confidential information, it's safer to check your company's security policy.
Microsoft's official documentation is also expected to be updated with further details in the future.
A. It is possible to install multiple IMEs and switch between them, but you cannot use all of them simultaneously. You select between them using the IME switching button in the taskbar or "Win+Space."
It's similar to "looking over a restaurant menu and choosing what to order" — users who switch based on purpose (ATOK for work, Copilot Keyboard for personal use) are also on the rise.
A. At this time, it appears that in addition to Kyle, Microsoft has indicated there are options for official Copilot characters as well.
It sounds like it will be enjoyable in a way similar to "choosing your player character in a game." There are also rumors on social media that nostalgic characters could be added in the future as Easter eggs (hidden characters), and fans are eagerly anticipating it.
The official release of Copilot Keyboard is an event that brings a full-scale AI revolution to Japanese text input — an "invisible but everyday infrastructure."
It's free, strong with the latest words, and even brings back the nostalgic Kyle — this level of polish is more than enough reason for Google Japanese Input and ATOK users to consider switching.
Daily text input is an unconscious act performed thousands of times a day.
Simply improving its accuracy raises productivity across the board — in business emails, social media posts, blog writing, and report creation.
It's well worth trying for a week, just to see.
The day you can hear Kyle say "How can I help you?" is just around the corner.
This article is a cross-post from AI Friends.
