Microsoft Paint can now make AI coloring books | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Microsoft Paint can now make AI coloring booksComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AITechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMicrosoft Paint can now make AI coloring booksIs anyone actually asking for this?Is anyone actually asking for this?by Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedJan 23, 2026, 11:06 AM UTCLinkShareGiftCan we please appreciate how poor these designs are? None actually feature a cat ON a donut, and one doesn’t even have a finished face. Image: Microsoft / The Verge (via Canva)Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.Microsoft is giving its Paint and Notepad apps on Windows new AI capabilities for editing text and making digital illustrations. The updates are currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Windows 11 Canary and Dev channels, and include features that feel oddly niche or advanced for such simplified apps, such as AI text improvements in Notepad and the ability to instantly generate coloring book pages in Paint.The latter feature is aptly called “Coloring book,” and lets you make blank coloring templates in version 11.2512.191.0 of Paint based on a text prompt. Users can access this feature by selecting the Coloring book option from the Copilot menu in Paint, and then describing what the design should be, such as “a cute fluffy cat on a donut.” Paint will then generate four results that Paint users can click to add to their canvas. From there, you can presumably use Paint itself to color the image, or print it out to use traditional art materials.It’s such an oddly specific tool that I have to wonder if this is something that coloring book consumers (parents and stressed-out millennials) actually use Paint for. The Coloring book feature is notably only available on Copilot Plus PCs, so it’s more likely that Microsoft is exploring novel ways to make its AI-infused Windows 11 devices more marketable. Paint is also getting a fill tolerance slider (which isn’t just restricted to Copilot hardware) that provides more control over how the Fill tool applies color.The Notepad 11.2512.10.0 update includes the ability to stream AI-generated results for Write, Rewrite, and Summarize features, allowing a preview of the text results to quickly appear without waiting for the full response. Notepad also has a new welcome experience that provides a quick overview of what’s available in the app, and now supports additional Markdown syntax features, including strikethrough formatting and nested lists.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIMicrosoftCloseMicrosoftPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MicrosoftNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularClaude Code is suddenly everywhere inside MicrosoftSony announces its first turntables in yearsEpic and Google have a secret $800 million Unreal Engine and services dealThe state attorneys general are as mad as you areHow much can a city take?The Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Microsoft is integrating artificial intelligence into its longstanding Paint and Notepad applications for Windows 11, a move that highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to infuse its core productivity tools with AI capabilities. This update, currently rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Windows 11 Canary and Dev channels, introduces two distinct AI-powered features. Firstly, the “Coloring book” function within Paint allows users to generate custom coloring templates based on text prompts. For example, a user could simply input “a cute fluffy cat on a donut,” and Paint will produce four distinct image variations for immediate use within the application. Users can then utilize Paint’s traditional tools to color these generated images or print them for manual coloring. Secondly, Notepad receives an update incorporating AI-streamed results for text-generation features like “Write,” “Rewrite,” and “Summarize.” This allows users to preview the AI’s output in real-time, removing the delay associated with traditional text generation. Furthermore, Notepad gains a fill tolerance slider, offering more refined control over the Fill tool’s color application. The application also includes new Markdown syntax, providing support for strikethrough formatting and nested lists. These developments demonstrate Microsoft’s strategy to extend its AI integration across its established software ecosystem, although the specific features—such as the Coloring book—suggest a targeted approach likely aimed at a particular segment of users, such as parents and stressed-out millennials seeking accessible creative activities. The update reflects Microsoft's broader commitment to leveraging AI to enhance user experiences within its flagship applications.