Key Points
- Microsoft shifts Copilot to a standalone app.
- Windows-specific functions removed.
- Copilot app offers more flexibility but fewer features.
- Change expected in Windows 11 version 24H2.
When Microsoft first introduced an AI assistant directly integrated into the operating system with Windows 11, people were excited about what it might be able to do. But this week’s updates suggest some major changes may be coming from Microsoft.
Microsoft ‘downgrades’ Copilot in Windows 11 – but there’s no need to panic https://t.co/Bh7k6OmlSM
— TechRadar (@techradar) July 2, 2024
From Integration to Standalone App
In its latest Windows 11 insider build for the Beta channel, Microsoft is taking out Copilot’s deep integration with Windows and making it a standalone app. This new app is basically a web-wrapper, which has both good and bad sides to it.
Advantages:
- You can move and resize the Copilot app window now.
- Users can uninstall it easily now and have more control over their systems.
Disadvantages:
- Copilot isn’t deeply integrated into the Windows 11 OS anymore.
All few of those are gone now – there used to be a couple of controls specific to Windows that you could ask Copilot to directly enable, like battery saver mode.
Now all they give you are manual instructions which apply equally to both 10 and 11 versions of the OS — so no system-specific functionality there anymore either.”
Why change?
According to Microsoft, wrapping apps in “web-based wrappers” lets them develop more flexibly and optimize based on user feedback. But there’s nothing concrete or detailed-looking about this statement; if anything, it seems marketing-y rather than engineering-y”
This change may land in Stable later this year — potentially as part of the big annual ‘fall’ update (the next one will be called “Windows 11 October [2022] Update” or similar). While I’m hopeful that some controls will come back again further down the road[…], I’m not going to hold my breath.”
Impact on Users
This marks a significant downgrade in what Copilot can do. If you used the few integrated features and found them helpful, this won’t be good news for you. On the other hand, knowing that it is no longer deeply integrated into Windows 11 means you can uninstall Copilot if you don’t need or want it anymore.”
User Reactions and Future Outlook
Microsoft’s decision to demote Copilot like this makes me wonder what their strategy is when it comes to AI integration with its operating system. Some people may like having more flexibility and control; others might not appreciate losing some functionality.”
The move towards web-based wrappers suggests they may be prioritizing broad usability over deep integration — more frequent updates, faster iterations based on user feedback etc., but at the cost of system-specific features.
Who knows whether these changes will pay off or if users are actually going to demand more of AI within their desktop ecosystem, but for now all I can say is that being able easily remove Copilot is definitely my favourite new feature in this week’s build!”
Let us know your thoughts below – would you prefer an AI companion that lives within your OS, or do you like the sound of having a standalone app?
