Mar 25, 2026
3 min read
The company has reduced Copilot's entry points on Windows, starting with Photos, Widgets, Notepad, and other apps.
Microsoft announced on Friday a set of changes aimed at improving the quality of the Windows 11 operating system, including customizing the number of entry points for its AI assistant, Copilot.
The company said it will reduce the integration of Copilot AI in several applications, starting with its Photos, Widgets, Notepad, and Snipping tools.
Under the heading "Integrating AI where it matters most," VP of Windows and Devices Pavan Davuluri wrote on the company's blog that Microsoft is becoming more intentional about "how and where Copilot is integrated into Windows."His 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 a growing consumer push for AI.Today, while many people see AI as a useful tool, there are concerns about trust and security.For example, a Pew Research study published this month found that half of US adults are excited about AI by June 2025, up from 37% in 2021.
This isn't the first time Microsoft is rethinking Copilot integration.Earlier, news site Windows Central reported that the company's plans to include Copilot-branded AI features in Windows 11 have been quietly shelved.This, the site said, included some system-level integration in the Settings app, File Explorer and elsewhere.
Previously, Microsoft delayed the launch of its AI-powered memory feature, Windows Recall for Copilot + PC, by more than a year as it struggled to address user concerns.The Recall feature was launched last April, but security flaws are still popping up.
It's clear that user feedback is influencing Microsoft's moves around AI in Windows.Davuluri wrote that he and his team have spent the past few months listening to the community about how they want to see Windows improved.
The return of the copilot is just one of the changes.
The company is also introducing the ability to move the taskbar to the top or side of the screen, give users more control over system updates, speed up File Explorer, improve the Widgets experience, update the Feedback Hub and make it easier to navigate its Windows Insider program - a community that provides feedback on the future of Windows.
