The first new keyboard key in about 30 years.
The new Copilot AI assistance key introduced by Microsoft.

About 30 years ago, Microsoft added the Windows key to keyboards. Chances are extremely high that the keyboard you're using on your computer has that Windows key on it. Hell, it might even have two Windows keys on it like mine does. Sorry Mac users with your Options key, this news does not apply to you.

Microsoft is apparently not satisfied with the classic keyboard anymore, because they are about to introduce a new key dedicated to their AI tool, Copilot. The Copilot key looks to replace the menu key that typically sits on the right side of the spacebar. The menu key that nobody ever uses will finally get replaced.

Microsoft executive vice president Yusuf Mehdi says that this is "a significant shift toward a more personal and intelligent computing future where AI will be seamlessly woven into Windows from the system, to the silicon, to the hardware." Mehdi says that the new key will shown off by various Microsoft "ecosystem partners" in the days leading up to CES 2024. The actual release of devices with the Copilot key will begin later in January 2024.

The introduction of the Copilot key marks the first significant change to the Windows PC keyboard in nearly three decades. We believe it will empower people to participate in the AI transformation more easily. The Copilot key joins the Windows key as a core part of the PC keyboard and when pressed, the new key will invoke the Copilot in Windows experience to make it seamless to engage Copilot in your day to day*.
The little asterisk there says that the Copilot feature will vary by market and device. You'll also need a Microsoft account to log in and use Copilot. In areas where Copilot isn't available (or when you aren't signed into your Microsoft account), the key will just launch Windows Search.

As it stands, there is no indication that older keyboards will have the functionality of the menu key replaced by Copilot. It may be that keyboards will need a new firmware update before the menu key would be allowed to function as the Copilot key.