Microsoft is reportedly 'pulling back' on stuffing Windows 11 with AI — and I couldn't be happier

Is Microsoft finally starting to see the light? It’s no secret that the company’s obsession with AI has gone over about as well as a lead balloon with the Windows faithful.

For the past year, it has felt like every update was less about making our lives easier and more about cramming Copilot into every nook and cranny of Windows 11. The backlash has been so loud and so consistent that a specific, none-too-flattering nickname has been trending across social media: "MicroSlop."

It’s a harsh term, but it perfectly captures the exhaustion of a user base that feels like their OS is being filled with non-essential AI features at the expense of stability, privacy, and common sense.

Whether it’s unwanted buttons in the taskbar or AI-powered "assistance" in apps that don’t need it, the sentiment is clear: people are tired of AI being shoved in their faces.

Turning the page on AI?

Wall Street seems to agree, too. Microsoft’s stock just took a massive 10% nosedive — its biggest single-day drop since the 2020 crash.

That's $400 billion in market value, and the equivalent of McDonald's, Burger King, Coca-Cola and Starbucks all going to zero overnight. Turns out investors aren't too happy with their returns on AI spending!

Thankfully, the message seems to have reached the higher-ups in Redmond. According to a new report from Zack Bowden over at Windows Central, Microsoft is reevaluating its AI strategy for Windows 11.

Citing sources familiar with the company's plans, Bowden details how Microsoft is looking to streamline — or outright remove — Copilot integrations across several "in-box" apps like Notepad and Paint starting in 2026.

The report suggests that internal teams have realized that haphazardly slapping a Copilot icon on every UI surface isn't actually helping anyone. In fact, Microsoft has reportedly paused work on adding new Copilot buttons to other built-in apps, signaling a shift toward being more "tactful and deliberate" with where AI actually appears.

Recalling Recall

The biggest admission of defeat may involve Windows Recall. According to Bowden’s sources, Microsoft internally views the current implementation of Recall as a failure.

While the company isn't scrapping the "photographic memory" concept entirely, they are reportedly looking to evolve it into something else — possibly even dropping the tainted "Recall" branding in the process.

While under-the-hood AI efforts like Semantic Search and new APIs for developers are still moving ahead, the heavy-handed, front-facing AI features that have annoyed so many of us are potentially on the chopping block.

Outlook

I’ve been a Windows user since the late 90s—I've lived through the highs of Windows XP and 7, and the dark days of Vista and 8.

But even as a long-term fan, I’m getting fed up with how bloated and sluggish the OS has become in recent years. Every time I open a simple text editor or try to find a file, I don't want a digital assistant trying to sell me on a "smarter" way to work.

I honestly hope this reevaluation is the real deal. Lessening these forced AI integrations would go a long way in making Windows feel like a tool again, rather than an advertising platform for Microsoft’s latest buzzword.

If Redmond actually follows through on cleaning up the "slop" and focuses on making the core OS fast and reliable, it might finally regain the trust of users like me who just want a clean place to get work done.

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