- Microsoft is rumored to be cutting back on AI in Windows 11
- That includes reducing Copilot integration in the interface and core apps
- Recall may also be in line for some big changes, and could get renamed, with some heavy hints dropped that Microsoft isn’t happy with it at all
Apparently, Microsoft is turning over another new leaf with AI in Windows 11, following another page turned last week with a broad promise to fix the desktop operating system.
Windows Central claims that Microsoft is taking action following the strong pushback against AI since the company doubled down on driving forward with these features (most notably with AI agents in Windows 11).
We’re told that according to sources our sister site spoke to, Microsoft is ‘reevaluating its AI strategy on Windows 11’ and planning on cutting back some AI features where they don’t make sense.
That includes reducing the number of Copilot buttons in the Windows 11 interface or its default apps, as these have been scattered liberally around in a not-so-subtle effort to promote the AI assistant. We’re told specifically that the Copilot integration found in the Notepad and Paint apps is currently under review for some streamlining work.
There’s also a freeze on adding more Copilot buttons or functionality to other default Windows 11 apps, although that’s likely only a temporary measure.
The message is clear enough, though, and for now Microsoft is reining in its desire to jam more AI, and more Copilot integration, into Windows 11 and its library of core apps.
Another nugget of info here is Windows Central’s assertion that Microsoft is also reviewing the viability of the Recall feature – the deep Windows 11 search that leverages regularly-taken screenshots. Apparently, even Microsoft feels that Recall has ‘failed’ in its current form, although the software giant is looking at ways to evolve the concept rather than scrap it entirely.
That suggests ditching it completely is still a possibility, though, but obviously not a favored one. It seems distinctly possible that at least the name could be changed, and the feature might be morphed into something else.
Analysis: on the right track – but we need actions, not words (or rumors)
We obviously need to take all this with some caution, as with anything that’s ultimately a rumor – albeit likely a well-informed one, and speculation that very much makes sense.
As I mentioned at the outset, last week Microsoft promised to fix the bugs and performance glitches with Windows 11, and that’s tied into AI, in a way. Because a lot of the bad feeling about AI being such a focus for Microsoft, as it jams an increasing number of these features into Windows 11, is that the company is doing this at the expense of the overall quality of the OS. As the rallying call around a lot of the AI hate went late last year, Microsoft needs to fix the fundamentals of Windows 11, and drop the obsession with developing as much AI-related functionality as possible.
And that’s exactly what Microsoft appears to be doing: fixing those fundamentals, as previously indicated – something we’ve already seen evidence of, in fact – and easing back on the overzealous pushing of AI.
It seems Microsoft is finally listening to users, in short, and taking action. Or, more correctly, I should say planning to take action – and actually going through with making good on all this is a different thing that remains to be seen.
I’m still worried that Microsoft has gone into a defensive PR mode, as it were, and is making all the right noises about fixing up Windows 11 – and relenting with the AI drive, at least temporarily – but that this won’t amount to nearly what it should. I’m not alone in that either, as there are a good deal of Windows 11 users expressing sentiments along skeptical lines in the usual online forums.
In this Reddit thread, the most upvoted comment, which chimes with my thoughts, is a simple statement: “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Time will tell how this pans out, but what runs in favor of something positive happening is the undeniable failings of Microsoft and Windows 11 in terms of the public perception of the OS. It’s clear enough that something must be done, and I won’t retread the same ground that I’ve been over in the past few months regarding the reputation of the OS – and how if it bombs any further, and trust is eroded in Microsoft, how can autonomous AI agents really work in Windows 11? They won’t, because people won’t trust them, just like they don’t trust Recall.
Speaking of AI agents, don’t think Microsoft is backtracking on those entities. The whole ‘agentic platform’ vision for Windows 11 is still seen as the future, and semantic (natural language) AI-powered search is, too (the latter is one of the strengths of AI, after all).
However, at the very least, Microsoft now appears to be treading more carefully, and has made some clear enough promises regarding fixing Windows 11. Hopefully we’ll see the results of that – and the company taking its foot off the accelerator in terms of shoving AI everywhere in Windows 11, if this new rumor is right – soon enough.
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