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posted by hubie on Thursday March 28 2024, @10:14PM   Printer-friendly

Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:

As spotted by German tech site DeskModder, Microsoft has begun automatically installing a Copilot app on Windows 11. The new application doesn't seem to have any functionality, and further investigation revealed that it has 0 bytes of data, suggesting that it's actually a placeholder shell for the most part. Thankfully, users can uninstall the app by simply using the built-in 'Uninstall' option in Windows.

[...] It's unclear how the Copilot app is getting installed on systems that have automatic updates turned off, but according to Ghacks, it showed up on their test PC after the Edge browser was updated to the latest version. Interestingly, the application's AppxManifest.xml lists Windows 10 as the minimum compatible version, while the maximum version is listed as Windows 12.0.0.0.

[...] Microsoft recently started rolling out Copilot to more Windows 10/11 devices, enabling users to experience the AI features on their desktop. According to the company, users can access up to ten Copilot requests before needing to sign-in with a Microsoft ID. The feature is still in preview as of now, but is enabled by default in Windows 11 version 23H2. It is, however, disabled by default in Windows 11 version 22H2.


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  • (Score: 5, Informative) by corey on Thursday March 28 2024, @10:58PM (1 child)

    by corey (2202) on Thursday March 28 2024, @10:58PM (#1350779)

    Other than ads, this constant creep of new products is the most frustrating thing with Microsoft. The intent of this is to jam this copilot feature in so people get using it before they can start using other AI products from other companies. I see similar annoyance with Office 365, it always pops up something about some feature I have no interest in, and I’m just wanting it to get out of my way so I can do my work. I still have to copy and paste links from Outlook into Firefox because otherwise it forcefully opens in Edge (which I hate), despite Firefox being my default browser. Plus it mangles the URLs with safelinks rubbish ostensibly for security but also so they can track each and every link I open.

    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by mcgrew on Saturday March 30 2024, @06:35PM

      by mcgrew (701) <publish@mcgrewbooks.com> on Saturday March 30 2024, @06:35PM (#1351030) Homepage Journal

      What do you expect from a creepy, evil corporation like Microsoft? Jeepers creepers! They're all a bunch of creeps!

      --
      The more I learn, the more I realize how abysmally ignorant I am.
  • (Score: 4, Touché) by Tork on Thursday March 28 2024, @11:08PM

    by Tork (3914) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 28 2024, @11:08PM (#1350780)
    If you wanted to be a pill you could probably create a folder with the same name as the executable. Remember folks, in coding-land files and folders use different commands. ;)
    --
    🏳️‍🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️‍🌈
  • (Score: 5, Informative) by julian on Thursday March 28 2024, @11:53PM (2 children)

    by julian (6003) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 28 2024, @11:53PM (#1350789)

    It's just a link to download Copilot. The retail copies of Windows 10/11 have included these for a lot of things like games. If you don't like this, procure (archive.org) a copy of the iso file for Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC, and then use this open source tool [github.com] to activate it. It will receive security and bug fixes until 2032 and will never receive new features or other changes.

    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Freeman on Friday March 29 2024, @01:15PM (1 child)

      by Freeman (732) on Friday March 29 2024, @01:15PM (#1350843) Journal

      I hated the windows live tiles the moment I saw them and was not impressed by whomever "thought it was a good idea to include advertisements" in my start menu.

      --
      Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
      • (Score: 3, Touché) by Ox0000 on Friday March 29 2024, @02:39PM

        by Ox0000 (5111) on Friday March 29 2024, @02:39PM (#1350860)

        and was not impressed by whomever "thought it was a good idea to include advertisements" in my start menu.

        Ain't no such thing an MBA cannot fuck up!

  • (Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Thursday March 28 2024, @11:54PM

    by ElizabethGreene (6748) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 28 2024, @11:54PM (#1350791) Journal

    They're shouting it from the rooftops. So much PR...

  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by PinkyGigglebrain on Friday March 29 2024, @12:42AM (1 child)

    by PinkyGigglebrain (4458) on Friday March 29 2024, @12:42AM (#1350792)

    Thankfully, users can uninstall the app by simply using the built-in 'Uninstall' option in Windows.

    For now.

    --
    "Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
    • (Score: 2) by Opportunist on Friday March 29 2024, @06:59AM

      by Opportunist (5545) on Friday March 29 2024, @06:59AM (#1350815)

      Later some patching might be required, just like it was to get rid of the TPM crap and install Win11 on older machines.

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by ledow on Friday March 29 2024, @12:27PM

    by ledow (5567) on Friday March 29 2024, @12:27PM (#1350835) Homepage

    The more they have to force it on users, the more I know that it's something I never want.

    I've never used Edge. The more you try to force it on me, the more I'll insist the second I find it that I will go out of my way to remove it.

    It's Apple and U2 albums all over again.

  • (Score: 4, Informative) by DadaDoofy on Friday March 29 2024, @01:06PM (3 children)

    by DadaDoofy (23827) on Friday March 29 2024, @01:06PM (#1350838)

    To to do anything more than Bing chat-bot searches with it, you have to pay a significant chunk of change each month. From UC Today:

    So, the answer to “Is Microsoft Copilot free?” is yes – for personal users using Windows and standard search tools (Bing). However, if you want to use Copilot with your Microsoft apps, and access more advanced features, you need to choose from one of two plans.

    The first, least expensive plan, introduced in January 2024, is “Microsoft Copilot Pro”. This plan is intended for individuals who want to access the most advanced features of Copilot, and upgrade their Microsoft apps. This option includes all of the features available on the “free” version of Copilot, plus priority model access. You also get Copilot for Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

    However, if you want to access Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps, you will need a platform subscription on top of your Copilot subscription. This means paying $20 per month, per user for Copilot Pro, plus the monthly or annual cost of a Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscription.

    Prices start at $6.99 for a personal subscription, and $9.99 for a family subscription (For up to 6 users), bringing your total Copilot cost to around $26.99-$29.99 per month.

    If you want access to GitHub Copilot, it will cost you an additional $10 per month. Copilot for Sales? Another $50 per month. Copilot for Security? They haven't announced pricing yet, but keep that wallet open!

    • (Score: 3, Insightful) by mcgrew on Saturday March 30 2024, @06:45PM (2 children)

      by mcgrew (701) <publish@mcgrewbooks.com> on Saturday March 30 2024, @06:45PM (#1351031) Homepage Journal

      From The Old Sayings Are Wrong: [mcgrew.info]

      There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

      Taken literally, this is patently false, as anyone with a grandmother knows. You may say “well, Grandma paid for it so it isn't free.” But it is free – to you.

      I have a fruit tree in my front yard, and all its fruit is completely free.

      What this old saying means is “never trust a salesman”. If a salesman offers to buy your lunch, it will cost you.

      From a physicist's perspective, it means you can't break the three laws of thermodynamics; you can never get more energy out of a system than you put in.

      --
      The more I learn, the more I realize how abysmally ignorant I am.
      • (Score: 2) by DadaDoofy on Saturday March 30 2024, @08:12PM (1 child)

        by DadaDoofy (23827) on Saturday March 30 2024, @08:12PM (#1351044)

        "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." - Margaret Thatcher

        • (Score: 2) by mcgrew on Thursday April 11 2024, @03:27PM

          by mcgrew (701) <publish@mcgrewbooks.com> on Thursday April 11 2024, @03:27PM (#1352507) Homepage Journal

          England's Ronald Reagan. Sweden and Finland, the happiest countries in the world despite being so damned cold, are socialist. That "other's people's money" wasn't created in the board room, it was created by the engineers, programmers, and factory floor workers. They have been stealing labor since Reagan.

          With fascism like we are now in, you run out of competence. Nobody wants to be ripped off. History says that every period of wealth disparity leads to an economic depression.

          Under communism, government runs business.
          Under fascism, business runs government.
          Under socialism, society runs government and business people run business under the watchful eye of society.

          --
          The more I learn, the more I realize how abysmally ignorant I am.
  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 29 2024, @01:53PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 29 2024, @01:53PM (#1350849)

    It's unclear how the Copilot app is getting installed on systems that have automatic updates turned off

    Tell me it's your first day working in IT without telling me it's your first day working in IT.

    Jesus...the number of point-and-click admins out there is astonishing.

    I just checked. It didn't get installed on any machines on the networks I manage....because the firewall blocks pretty much all outbound traffic, and http/https is inspected and any shit going to Microsoft is blocked.

    It's 2024. How in the incompetent fuck do you still let any traffic leave your network that isn't explicitly allowed?

    • (Score: 2) by Ox0000 on Friday March 29 2024, @03:11PM (1 child)

      by Ox0000 (5111) on Friday March 29 2024, @03:11PM (#1350865)

      Are you telling me you're running an unpatched Windows? I too like to live dangerously, but dang... this sounds more like you having a death wish.

      • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 31 2024, @07:30AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday March 31 2024, @07:30AM (#1351081)

        I believe AC was merely stating that Windows is NOT in and of itself secure and must be closely monitored by non-microsoft "customs agents", aka firewall proxies if system security and integrity mean anything to you.

        "Loose Lips Sink Ships", and Microsoft is the poster child for gossip on the internet.

        Businesses like Microsoft because they make office staff more fungible, i.e. cheap and easily replaced. Nothing bad there, really, it's a Business system. People aren't there to all become computer whizzes, any more than users of tools becoming metallurgists.

        One just doesn't put a naked Microsoft system on the web. Just like they shouldn't place naked executives in front of their business.

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