- Microsoft has added new docking options to Copilot on Windows, returning to the original side panel design
- This comes amid promises that Microsoft will scale back AI visibility and bloatware to improve Windows
- The new Copilot docking options are still in a rollout phase for Windows users
Windows 11 users have mocked Microsoft over its excessive use of AI and bloatware, which it has promised to scale back on as part of Project Windows K2, but a new move suggests the company may not be as committed to removing AI features as some hoped.
As reported by Windows Latest, Copilot has returned to its original sidebar design, forcing applications to the side when the AI assistant is docked. This essentially works almost exactly like Windows 11’s snap layouts, which allow users to have applications side by side, but with Copilot’s new docking options on the left or right side of the desktop.
Programs are also automatically resized to make room for the Copilot window, effectively prioritizing the AI assistant.
Copilot has gone through several design changes, initially serving as a sidebar (very similar to the current design), then as a standalone application, but now serving as an Edge-based wrapper that uses more RAM, according to Windows Latest.
Fortunately, this new version of Copilot is still in its rollout phase for Windows users, so the ‘quick view’ option, which acts as a floating window, will be the main way to use the AI assistant for now.
These docking options are also arguably better than just quick view alone, as it gives users more options to customize Copilot’s placement. However, the return to an old design seems at odds with Microsoft’s attempts to wind down AI visibility and bloat the operating system.
Copilot is also not entirely simple to remove: while the Copilot app can be uninstalled, it is still integrated into Windows at a broader level and requires full removal via blocking in Group Policy or editing the Windows registry.
Not all PC users are tech-savvy, and instead of making it much easier for those users to completely remove Copilot, Microsoft is instead adding more features. Hopefully these docking options work as a boon in the long run, but it’s hard to trust Microsoft to push for AI reduction on Windows.
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