Microsoft reportedly backing down on AI plans
According to rumors, Microsoft, contrary to initial announcements, will not be stuffing the Copilot AI into every corner of Windows after all.
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Microsoft is reportedly backing down on its plans to integrate Copilot into all areas of the Windows interface. Microsoft is reportedly re-evaluating its AI approach for the operating system.
As Windows Central reports, citing unnamed sources, the use of "Copilot" as an umbrella term for AI in Windows has been paused shortly after the delays of Windows Recall, along with other AI functions that were in development. These included system-level AI functions for settings, notifications, and File Explorer. These were announced about two years ago but have not yet materialized.
Without Copilot branding, there are now AI functions in settings (semantic search), while File Explorer has received an AI action menu that, however, passes through to other apps. In the initial demonstrations of Copilot, such actions were possible without opening other apps. There are currently no AI functions in notifications at all. These were supposed to enable direct reactions to mouse clicks, such as opening files or replying to messages. Even the Windows Copilot runtime has been renamed to Windows AI APIs.
Less AI in Windows?
Other unnamed sources, who are allegedly familiar with Microsoft's plans, have also indicated that Microsoft wants to bloat Windows 11 less with AI this year. Microsoft wants to proceed more tactfully where the Copilot brand and AI extensions appear in apps and interfaces. This is part of larger efforts to address criticism and concerns from users who attribute bloat and enshittification to Windows 11. Ultimately, new AI functions will still be added, but they are intended to remain optional and deactivatable.
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Microsoft itself provided the medium with a statement that at least does not contradict such plans: "Our approach to product development is to preview with customers and evolve with feedback. Some experiences we may preview privately and update before rolling out more broadly, while others we may preview and iterate publicly with feedback from Windows Insiders. In both of these cases, features may change, be removed, or replaced over time as we gather input from customers."
(dmk)
