by Daniel Parker, RDPFS Contributor:
Freedom Scientific recently released the annual major update of its JAWS for Windows screen reader. These updates generally come out in November after approximately two months as a public beta where users can test the software and submit feedback. As happens each year, the list of notable features for JAWS 2025 is also released on the Freedom Scientific website, with additions being made as minor updates occur throughout the year. One feature that uses artificial intelligence (AI) is FSCompanion, which functions as a keystroke lookup. The user asks the AI a question about how to do a certain task. FSCompanion then returns specific JAWS, Windows, or application keystrokes, saving the user from having to look through many resources to find the keystroke they want. It is enabled by pressing Insert + Spacebar, followed by F1, or by going to fscompanion.ai in a web browser. Another AI feature is automatic language detection, which has existed in VoiceOver on Apple’s MacOS computer operating system for a few years. With this tool, AI predicts the written language of text, and JAWS prompts the synthesizer to speak using that language. Specific instructions on enabling this option are provided on the Freedom Scientific website, which also includes many improvements for the web, EPUB books, Google Suite, Office apps, and more. Additional information on these and other features, including instructions, can be found on Freedom Scientific’s “What’s New in JAWS 2025” page.
