Don't roll your eyes at the Surface Pro X's new Eye Contact feature
Microsoft's new tech makes it easy to have eye contact during video calls.
What you need to know
- Microsoft is rolling out its Eye Contact feature to the Surface Pro X.
- The feature makes it appear as if you're looking straight at your camera, even if you're looking at your screen.
- The feature has been in testing for close to a month and is now generally available.
Microsoft is rolling out its Eye Contact feature to the Surface Pro X. The feature uses artificial intelligence to make it appear as if you're looking straight at your camera, even when you're looking at your screen. The feature has been in testing for close to a month and is now generally available as part of the Surface Pro X's August 14 firmware update. To get the update, your Surface Pro X needs to be running the Windows 10 May 2019 Update, version 1903, or greater.
"Powered by Artificial Intelligence and the onboard Neural Network accelerator, Eye Contact helps to adjust your gaze on video calls and recordings, so you appear to be looking directly in the camera.," Microsoft said in a blog post when the feature started rolling out.
The feature does not appear to be limited to any specific app, instead working through your front camera wherever you use it. Microsoft pointed out during its testing that the feature does not work while the Surface Pro X is in portrait orientation.
The Eye Contact feature utilizes the Microsoft SQ1 processor that's inside the Surface Pro X, so it might not ship to other PCs any time soon or at all. The Surface Pro X is one of the best Windows laptops that we've reviewed recently, and its latest feature helps you connect to people a bit easier, whether you're at home or on the go.
Sleeker Surface
On the go
The Surface Pro X is a drastic redesign of Microsoft's Surface Pro line, slimming everything down with an ARM processor and LTE connectivity.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.