Lego’s new sets will make Star Wars sound effects for you. | Image: Lego
It may have been one of the smallest devices announced at CES 2026, but Lego's new Smart Brick was also one of the most talked about debuts of the show. We've recognized it as the "Best in show" in our CES 2026 awards, and following the Smart Play system's launch earlier this week, the first three sets featuring the new Smart Brick are now available for preorder.
Lego is introducing its Smart Brick to the world as part of three new sets in its popular Star Wars line that demonstrate many of the brick's unique capabilities. The cheapest set is the $69.99, 473-piece Smart Play: Darth Vader's TIE Fighter that includes one Smart Brick, one Smar …
Microsoft is testing a new feature that integrates Copilot into the File Explorer, but it’s not going to be another ‘Ask Copilot’ button in the right-click menu. This time, Copilot will live inside File Explorer, likely in a sidebar or Details/Preview-pane-like interface, according to new references in Windows 11 preview builds.
Microsoft watchers @PhantomOfEarth and @a_donglee worked together to uncover a hidden “Chat with Copilot” feature in File Explorer.
@PhantomOfEarth confirmed the details to Windows Latest, and even shared screenshots of the strings that seem to suggest Copilot will be integrated into File Explorer as a “chat view,” not an extra app (where you asked to open Copilot).
How Copilot integration in File Explorer works right now
Until now, you could find Copilot only in specific locations within File Explorer. In fact, it was not exactly integrated into File Explorer.
Technically, Microsoft added Copilot to File Explorer a while ago, but I would not call what we have a full-fledged integration. At the moment, if you right-click any file, you’ll see an ‘Ask Copilot’ button, which only sends the file or image to the Copilot. The option disappears when the Copilot app is removed.
Microsoft plans to load Copilot INSIDE File Explorer
Windows 11 Build 26220.7523 contains references to “AppAssistantLaunch,” which is related to the upcoming Copilot integration in File Explorer. The resources.pri for FileExplorerExtensions SystemApps contain references to two strings, the first is “Chat with Copilot” and the second is “Detach Copilot.”
What makes this convincing is that the hidden button spotted in Windows 11 build 26220.7523 isn’t just a random placeholder. It is traced to an internal name, “AppAssistantLaunch”, and there are matching string resources inside FileExplorerExtensions.
In the above screenshot, the key Resources.AppAssistantLaunchLabel points to “Chat with Copilot”, which suggests that it’s a feature that’s supposed to open a Copilot chat experience from within Explorer, not the Copilot app.
Then, the second screenshot has references to Resources.AppAssistantDetachLabel, which points to “Detach Copilot.”
“Detach” only makes sense if Copilot is first attached to File Explorer, so it’s possible that Copilot will be attached to the sidebar within the File Explorer. By default, Copilot in File Explorer could be docked to a panel, but it can be detached and popped out into its own window.
All of that makes sense because if these references were only about launching Copilot as a separate app, you’d expect references to strings like “Open Copilot” or “Launch Copilot.” But here, we have references to “Detach.”
Microchips implanted under the skin could be portrayed as a convenient way to store and access employment and personal data. (BigStock Photo)
A bill introduced in the Washington state Legislature would ban employers from requiring or pressuring workers to be microchipped, a practice lawmakers want to prohibit before it ever becomes an issue.
The bill would prohibit employers from requiring, requesting or coercing employees to have microchips implanted in their bodies as a condition of employment, and would bar the use of subcutaneous tracking or identification technology for workplace management or surveillance.
It aims to protect worker privacy and bodily autonomy by establishing strict penalties for violations, including civil penalties starting at $10,000 and the right for aggrieved workers to sue for damages and injunctive relief.
Washington state Rep. Brianna Thomas. (Leg.Wa.Gov Photo)
While there’s no known instance of an employer seeking such action, Thomas told GeekWire the bill is a preemptive move.
“We are getting out ahead of the problem because the practice of requiring these chips is too dangerous to wait for it to show up in Washington,” she said Thursday via email. “An employee with a microchip stops being an employee — they are essentially being dehumanized into corporate equipment.”
The Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs reported that internationally, more than 50,000 people have elected to receive microchip implants to serve as their swipe keys, credit cards, and more. The organization noted that the technology is especially popular in Sweden, where chip implants are more widely accepted for gym access, e-tickets on transit systems, and to store emergency contact information.
HB 2303 would add a new section to Chapter 49.44 of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), titled “Violations — Prohibited Practices.” The chapter serves as a catch-all for labor regulations that define and prohibit specific unfair or illegal activities by employers, employees, and labor representatives.
The legislation is similar to laws passed in Arkansas, California, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin, Indiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.
“Workers cannot legitimately consent to a program because of the power dynamic between them and the employer,” Thomas said. “Implanted chips have no place in a work environment.”
Nevada is “arguably the most restrictive” on microchip implants and permanent identification markers, according to the Carnegie Council. Its law prohibits people from voluntarily electing to receive such markers in Nevada.
Thomas said HB 2303 does not go as far as Nevada’s restrictions, noting that workers would still be free to make their own choices outside the workplace.
Thomas said she believes companies will eventually pitch the technology to their employees by telling them it’s more convenient and easier — you don’t have to worry about forgetting your work access badge, etc.
“Many times convenience causes people to view things too narrowly and they don’t see the big picture,” she said. “The power dynamic between an employer and an employee makes true, uncoerced consent impossible. This is about making sure workers not only have the option but also consider all the factors when these programs are presented to them.”
The Carnegie Council also reported on the privacy, data security, and health safety concerns that microchips present, including from technologists who worry about IoT vulnerabilities in sensors and network architecture that could be exploited by hackers.
While the Washington proposal targets simple Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, a more sophisticated wave of “brain-computer interfaces” (BCIs) is rapidly moving toward the mainstream.
Elon Musk wants to ramp up production of his Neuralink brain‑computer interface chips in 2026. He envisions the technology helping people with neurological conditions while eventually enabling humans to interact directly with computers. The company plans to make the surgical implantation process nearly fully automated to scale the procedure.
Washington’s HB 2303 is scheduled for a public hearing Jan. 14 in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.
Hi, Insiders! For almost two decades, Microsoft OneDrive has been helping people store and manage everything from family photos to work files in the cloud. As our digital demands continue to grow, OneDrive too has evolved to keep the pace, delivering smarter tools for your everyday work and life.
This past year alone, we’ve introduced enhancements including AI-powered support and improved annotation options, many of which were influenced by your feedback and suggestions! Here’s a look at how OneDrive upgraded in 2025:
Transform documents into actionable insights with Copilot
With Microsoft 365 Copilot in OneDrive, turning information into action has never been easier. Quickly gather information about your files to make smarter decisions and accelerate your work. Copilot can provide concise summaries of multiple files at once, compare and highlight key differences between files, and answer questions about your documents, meeting recordings, or images.
Audio overviews in OneDrive offer a new and enjoyable way to digest content, while Copilot in File Explorer can take over the tedious task of generating FAQs around your lengthy files’ contents.
Photos Agent helps you find the exact photo you need via a simple prompt, and Moments and photo shuffle curate personalized slideshows to resurface forgotten memories.
We know how important it is for many of you to be able to easily secure and access your files, so we’ve released several features geared toward making this process intuitive, such as the ability to name files on Mac using special characters (like “ and ?) and automatic saving to the cloud in Word.
We also announced the hero link, which removes the headache of needing to create, delete, and manage multiple links to your files. New annotation and markup features improve collaboration by allowing you to use digital, hand-drawn ink, highlight text, draw shapes, and even insert sticky notes directly onto your PDFs. Finally, we added support for external, non-removable drives for Mac users for seamless syncing and better flexibility, as well as the ability to transfer ownership of files in just a few easy clicks.
OneDrive’s performance got even faster and more dependable in 2025, with updates including added shortcuts to keep shared library content side-by-side with your individual files and Microsoft 365 Archive, which offers a simple archiving solution to declutter workspaces, reduce costs, and keep legacy content discoverable.
Copilot + OneDrive: Watch all these features and more in action
Want to dive even deeper? Cath the full on-demand video from our third-annual OneDrive event. From our product leaders Jeff Teper to Jason Moore, to the experts building these features every day, it’s packed with valuable content!
We hope that these announcements have inspired you to take advantage of new and improved capabilities in OneDrive. We value your ongoing support and insightful feedback as it inspires us to continually innovate and enhance our products as an essential tool for millions around the globe. Every suggestion and comment you share plays a pivotal role in our journey towards excellence. Please keep them coming and help us make OneDrive the best product it can be for YOU using any of these methods!
Learn how to use AI and .NET C# to automatically explain changes to contracts, improving the document review and collaboration processes. This comprehensive guide provides practical implementation strategies and best practices.
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