After integrating (read: shoving) Copilot into as many Windows apps as possible, Microsoft seems to have made a startling discovery: users don’t want to integrate Copilot into as many Windows apps as possible. On Friday, Pawan Davuluri, Microsoft’s president of Windows and Devices, Published a post on the official Windows blogWalks readers through the changes the company was making to Windows in response to user feedback. While Davuluri stopped short of saying “all this AI was a mistake,” he said, “What came (from user feedback) was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want to make it better.” So, now, we have a bunch of changes that, hopefully, make Windows better.
Copilot is taking a step back in future versions of Windows 11
Chief among those changes is the AI regression. In a bullet point titled “Integrating AI where it makes the most sense, with craft and focus,” Davuluri says Microsoft is going to be “more intentional” about where and how it places Copilot throughout the operating system. The goal going forward will be experiences that are “truly useful and well-designed.” Notably, Microsoft is now “reducing unnecessary copilot entry points.” While more changes may come in the future, the bugs start with the snipping tool, photos, widgets, and notepad. Devuluri doesn’t say how much Microsoft is pulling Copilot back from these apps, but with any luck, the company will at least make the AI features a little less prominent.
This first round of changes may not be perfect, but it seems to address the main complaints users have about Copilot in Windows 11. Take a look at technology forums like Windows and Reddit, and you’ll find plenty of criticism here. This threadFor example, there’s plenty of it: one user posted “I hate the process by which they’re cramming it into every single tool, changing it almost daily and leaving most features as default,” while another said “This reminds me of Windows 8, but on steroids.” One even tried to use it technically, to no avail: “I (set up) a copilot agent as a supplemental training resource and it has a mind of its own. I instruct it not to do something and it does the opposite.”
While I’m sure there is Copilot features that some users may find usefulThe fact is that most of these tasks are not necessary to do what people want to do with their machines. If they were, Microsoft probably wouldn’t need to drag Copilot into as many different corners of the OS as possible, just to prove to the world (or investors) that it’s taking AI seriously. The company has created a dedicated Copilot key for PCAnd Even went to extreme lengths to trick people into using Copilot. If you have to trick customers into using your product, the product is probably not worth using.
Other changes coming in Windows 11
Too much copilot isn’t the only complaint users have about Windows 11. In fact, people have been complaining about Windows 11 since its launch, even before the generative AI boon that was launched in late 2022. As such, Davuluri’s post is full of plans to improve Windows 11 for the better, supposedly with feedback directly to the user.
What do you think so far?
It includes changes to taskbar customization, including the ability to move the taskbar to the top or sides of your screen. File Explorer will also launch faster, with less flicker and smoother navigation. Widgets will also be “quiet” by default, with new controls for when they appear. Updates are another major Windows 11 pain point that is being addressed this year. Soon, you’ll be able to skip updates while setting up a new device so you can start using it faster. You can restart or shut down your PC without updating, and you can pause updates for longer if you don’t feel like installing the latest software version.
Windows Insiders will also notice some changes: Davuluri says Microsoft will make it easier to navigate the program with clear descriptions for each channel (so you know what you’re signing up to test), easier access to new features (something most insiders are meant to test), higher quality updates and more transparency about how user feedback affects future Windows builds. At that point, the general feedback hub is being redesigned, so insiders can easily share their feedback (and see other users’ feedback).
You can read Davuluri’s full post to see all the details on Microsoft’s plans for Windows 11, but, in my view, this is a good sign. Microsoft realizes that its current OS is too busy and in-your-face, whether it includes its AI or its other features. By toning down the design across the board, Windows can be an OS that gives users more control over how it works and responds—which is exactly what it should be.
