Microsoft Store for Windows 11 and before that Windows 10 is... Not so good. It has made me so angry that I almost threw my PC and laptop out the window. The store is not user friendly and it is difficult to find the product you are looking for.

Other than occasionally using the store to download Xbox PC apps, I tend to avoid the Microsoft Store on Windows. But we may soon have a reason to put on our virtual rubber gloves and browse the store. That's thanks to AI.

While the rise of AI and smart chatbots may have some people nervously muttering "Skynet" or worrying that their jobs will be replaced by glorified zeroes and ones, tools like ChatGPT will not disrupt everyday life or make human hard work However, tools like ChatGPT could be really useful in helping daily life, rather than destroying it or rendering human hard work meaningless. That said, Microsoft's plan to add an "AI hub" to the Windows store sounds like a good idea.

The core of this concept is to first make it available to Windows 11 developers, providing a section in the Microsoft Store where users can search and select from a growing number of apps that have AI and smart chatbots at their core. [e.g., express creativity with Luminar Neo and Lensa; master video and audio with Descript, Krisp, and Podcastle; present ideas with Gamma and Copy.ai; build a resume with Kickresume; Play.ht AI to generate audio or plan a trip with Tripnotes," Microsoft explains.

To prevent data sharing and privacy concerns, Microsoft noted that all content on the AI Hub will be tested for security, family safety, and device compatibility. The AI Hub will also serve as an educational tool for the use of AI, not just a dumping ground for software that is smarter than the average app.

"The space will educate customers on how to start and expand their AI-enabled journey, encouraging them to use AI on a daily basis to improve productivity, spark creativity, and more," Microsoft said.

AI will eventually permeate every issue of the apps and tools we use on a daily basis, and having a dedicated AI section in the Microsoft Store may help people figure out what AI is.

Some may balk at the idea of having AI-powered apps on their phones beyond things like Siri and Google Assistant. But on a PC, you have more of a sense of control and don't have to worry about constantly being bothered by smart apps that suddenly have too many permissions for notifications on your phone. So the AI Hub feels like a smart way to introduce more people to AI tools and help productivity instead of encroaching on it.

Furthermore, the more people use AI tools, the more capable they will become, hopefully preventing nasty blunders and giving funny answers to queries. I myself don't welcome robotic overlords, but I think we are at the frontier where appropriately smart apps can really make boring jobs easier and open up all kinds of creativity. And Microsoft will likely be at the forefront of AI development and distribution.