Microsoft rolls back some of its Copilot AI bloat on Windows

Microsoft announced A series of changes aimed at improving the quality of the Windows 11 operating system were introduced on Friday, including in particular dialing back the number of access points to the AI ​​assistant, Copilot.

The company said it will reduce Copilot AI integrations in some apps, starting with Photos, Widgets, Notepad and the Snipping Tool.

Under the heading ‘Integrating AI where it is most meaningful’ Pavan DavuluriEVP of Windows and Devices, wrote on the company’s blog that Microsoft is becoming more aware of “how and where Copilot integrates into Windows.” The goal, he explained, is to focus on AI experiences that are “really useful.”

This less-is-more approach to integrating AI into existing platforms may reflect growing consumer resistance to AI’s bloat. While many people today view AI as a useful tool, there are also concerns about trust and security. For example, a Pew Research survey published this month noted that half of U.S. adults are more concerned than excited about AI as of June 2025, up from 37% in 2021.

This isn’t the first time Microsoft has reconsidered its Copilot integrations. The news site appeared earlier this month Windows Central said the company’s plan to deliver Copilot-branded AI features in Windows 11 was quietly shelved. According to the site, this included some system-level integrations within the Settings app, File Explorer, and elsewhere.

Before that, Microsoft did the launch postponed of its AI-powered memory feature, Windows Recall for Copilot+ PCs, for more than a year as it tried to address users’ privacy concerns. The Recall feature launched last April, but there are security issues is still being discovered.

Clearly, user feedback is influencing Microsoft’s moves around AI on Windows. Davuluri wrote that he and his team have been listening to the community in recent months about how they would like to see Windows improved.

Rolling back Copilot is just one of the changes being made.

The company is also introducing the ability to move the taskbar to the top or sides of the screen, giving users more control over system updates, making File Explorer faster, improving the Widgets experience, updating the Feedback Hub, and making it easier to navigate the Windows Insider program – a community that provides feedback on the future of Windows.