'Concentrate on keeping it simple': Bill Gates wanted PCs to be straightforward, and Windows 11’s AI push is a betrayal

Opinion
By published

Did Microsoft forget Bill Gates' golden rule?

Bill Gates in 2019
(Image credit: Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times)

Microsoft has seen better days. The last few months have shown Windows 10 reach its end of life, much to the disappointment of many, while the tech giant's stock took a 10% dive, the biggest it's had since 2020.

The common thread for this rough patch? Microsoft Copilot, or in other words, the push for AI on Windows 11. When we see Copilot icons slapped on every app and interface of the operating system, to the point that you have to sign in to Paint, there's a good reason users have felt the sting and coined the admittedly hard term "MicroSlop."

Keep it simple, Microsoft

Microsoft Logo with Open AI logo on phone

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

During an interview in 1986 from Programmers at Work: 1st Generation, Gates talks about his time as the CEO of Microsoft, along with navigating the advancements of computing at the time. With PCs becoming more powerful, programs became trickier to work with.

When asked what the most difficult part of computer programming was, though, one quote stands out that resonates with what Windows has become today.

"The hardest part is deciding what the algorithms are, and then simplifying them as much as you can. It’s difficult to get things down to their simplest forms. You have to simulate in your mind how the program’s going to work, and you have to have a complete grasp of how the various pieces of the program work together."

The finest pieces of software are those where one individual has a complete sense of exactly how the program works. To have that, you have to really love the program and concentrate on keeping it simple, to an incredible degree

Bill Gates, Co-Founder of Microsoft

Gates continues: "The finest pieces of software are those where one individual has a complete sense of exactly how the program works. To have that, you have to really love the program and concentrate on keeping it simple, to an incredible degree."

Essentially, for new software to work on an operating system and integrate with what's already working, it needs to be simple. With the countless number of features Microsoft has implemented into its OS since then, from Windows 7 to Windows 11, I can only imagine that's a hard task. But it's telling that Copilot hasn't abided by these words.

A few years later, in 1992, Gates spoke with Profit magazine, following up on the state of advancing its OS alongside the evolution of PCs.

“Five years ago, a lot of improvements in applications were just throwing features in. Now we have to understand what people want to do, what makes it hard to do those things, and design the interface around those ideas.”

In recent years, the boom in AI services like ChatGPT, Gemini and yes, even Copilot itself, appeared to be the next stage in computing. It seemed to be the right bet, as we've seen how artificial intelligence has made improvements in the way we work, interact with the world (using Ray-Ban Meta Display smart glasses to translate Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show) and certainly in the way we game (Nvidia's DLSS 4.5, as the most recent example).

But then there are AI features like the controversial Windows Recall, the inclusion of Copilot in apps and settings that aren't needed, and more. This is notable, as it goes against Gates' stating "we have to understand what people want to do." And the people have spoken, too.

When we asked "How do you feel about Microsoft potentially scaling back AI features in Windows 11?" in a poll, 68% of responders chose that they wanted a master "OFF" switch for all of it, while 31% said it's about time to clean up the bloat. Notably, no one picked "I actually use those features."

Making amends

Microsoft Surface Laptop 2024

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Gates' words ring more true than ever today. With a bloated Windows 11 stuffed with AI, leading to further bugs, sluggish performance, and an AI assistant around every corner that nearly demands a smart way to work in... Paint, the frustration is tangible.

But Microsoft appears to be taking heed. President of Windows and devices, Pavan Davuluri, has addressed Windows 11's issues, stating: "The feedback we’re receiving from our community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people."

That echoes what Gates said decades ago and is a good sign that Windows as a whole is making a comeback. How will these fixes look? I'm not sure, but we're already catching word that Microsoft plans to ditch OpenAI, as Jezz Corden of Windows Central reports, meaning ChatGPT won't continue to take over Microsoft's AI push.

Microsoft appears to be going back to the drawing board, and if anything, this will follow Gates' remarks of keeping things "simple." So far, Windows 11 may have been a betrayal of these words, but Microsoft is rightfully trying to gain the trust of its users back.

For now, it's looking like the AI bubble might burst after all — for Microsoft, at least.

Google News

Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.

More from Tom's Guide

Darragh Murphy
Darragh Murphy
Computing Editor

Darragh is Tom’s Guide’s Computing Editor and is fascinated by all things bizarre in tech. His work can be seen in Laptop Mag, Mashable, Android Police, Shortlist Dubai, Proton, theBit.nz, ReviewsFire and more. When he's not checking out the latest devices and all things computing, he can be found going for dreaded long runs, watching terrible shark movies and trying to find time to game

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.