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Windows Weekly 965 distilled a chaotic week in PC tech into a sharp, pragmatic briefing: Paul Thurrott and his cohosts threaded CES highlights, Microsoft’s high‑stakes engineering pivot toward Rust, stealth platform changes like hardware‑accelerated BitLocker, fresh Windows Insider previews and Copilot updates, and a sweeping set of gaming and hardware notes that together sketch where Windows users and IT teams should focus in 2026.
Windows Weekly has long been the pulse check for Microsoft’s sprawling ecosystem—mixing product launches, corporate strategy, and nitty‑gritty operational implications. This episode leaned hard into themes that will matter for the next five years: memory‑safe languages and automated refactoring, the operational reality of hardware‑gated platform features, the accelerating influence of generative AI in both product and engineering workflows, and the downstream pressures these create on supply chains and OEMs.
The program’s arc in this episode moves from headline‑grabbing ambition (a Microsoft engineering charter to replace legacy C/C++ with Rust) to quietly delivered platform changes (hardware‑accelerated BitLocker shipping in late 2025), then into tactical guidance for admins and consumers: how to prepare for hardware requirements, how to approach new Copilot behavior, and what gamers should expect from early 2026 Game Pass additions.
The job posting and related commentary described a blended approach: deterministic compiler‑style analysis, automated translation tools, large language models for scaffolding and code suggestion, and a heavy emphasis on verification artifacts and staged deployments. Practically, that means Microsoft intends to build an “infrastructure for code processing” to accelerate migrations where it makes sense—primarily to mitigate long‑standing memory‑safety vulnerabilities endemic to C/C++.
This clarification matters for several reasons. Windows is not a single monolithic binary; it is a massive ecosystem of drivers, firmware interactions, third‑party ABI dependencies, and hardware OEM contracts. Rewriting pieces of that in Rust introduces operational complexity—ABI stability, driver compatibility, kernel contracts, and the risk of subtle behavioral regressions. The public caveat from Microsoft shifted expectations from an immediate panic (drivers and OEMs will be left in the cold) to a multi‑year, instrumented modernization effort with staged verification.
But the shift also introduces operational considerations:
Readers should note: supply forecasts and pricing are volatile and regional. The claim that AI demand is compressing consumer device supply is plausible and aligns with broader industry reporting, but organizations should verify current contract terms and price projections with their hardware vendors before making procurement decisions. Treat IDC projections as an important signal, not a deterministic outcome.
Source: Thurrott.com Windows Weekly 965: Almost Meat
Windows Weekly has long been the pulse check for Microsoft’s sprawling ecosystem—mixing product launches, corporate strategy, and nitty‑gritty operational implications. This episode leaned hard into themes that will matter for the next five years: memory‑safe languages and automated refactoring, the operational reality of hardware‑gated platform features, the accelerating influence of generative AI in both product and engineering workflows, and the downstream pressures these create on supply chains and OEMs.The program’s arc in this episode moves from headline‑grabbing ambition (a Microsoft engineering charter to replace legacy C/C++ with Rust) to quietly delivered platform changes (hardware‑accelerated BitLocker shipping in late 2025), then into tactical guidance for admins and consumers: how to prepare for hardware requirements, how to approach new Copilot behavior, and what gamers should expect from early 2026 Game Pass additions.
Microsoft and Rust: Ambition vs. Reality
What was announced (and what it means)
Paul highlighted a widely reported internal engineering charter that set an explicit target to eliminate Microsoft’s C and C++ codebase by 2030 using advanced program analysis and AI‑assisted refactoring—an audacious, company‑scale modernization program. The headline metric that spread across social feeds—“one engineer, one month, one million lines”—was presented as a North Star for throughput, not a literal operational guarantee.The job posting and related commentary described a blended approach: deterministic compiler‑style analysis, automated translation tools, large language models for scaffolding and code suggestion, and a heavy emphasis on verification artifacts and staged deployments. Practically, that means Microsoft intends to build an “infrastructure for code processing” to accelerate migrations where it makes sense—primarily to mitigate long‑standing memory‑safety vulnerabilities endemic to C/C++.
The clarifications and limits
After an early wave of sensational headlines—some of which suggested Microsoft would simply “rewrite Windows in Rust overnight”—the distinguished engineer who publicized the charter and Microsoft itself issued clarifications: this work is research and tooling first, with an immediate focus on critical Azure and cloud‑side components before any mass kernel rewrite. The company framed this as a long‑term modernization program, not an untested, unsupervised wholesale rewrite of the Windows kernel.This clarification matters for several reasons. Windows is not a single monolithic binary; it is a massive ecosystem of drivers, firmware interactions, third‑party ABI dependencies, and hardware OEM contracts. Rewriting pieces of that in Rust introduces operational complexity—ABI stability, driver compatibility, kernel contracts, and the risk of subtle behavioral regressions. The public caveat from Microsoft shifted expectations from an immediate panic (drivers and OEMs will be left in the cold) to a multi‑year, instrumented modernization effort with staged verification.
Strengths of the approach
- Memory safety: Rust’s ownership and borrowing model eliminates large classes of buffer overflows and use‑after‑free vulnerabilities without garbage collection pauses—an ideal property for low‑latency systems code.
- Modern tooling: Combining compiler analysis with AI agents promises a faster path to converting boilerplate and well‑structured modules while allowing humans to focus on semantics and verification.
- Security posture: Reducing memory‑safety bugs should lower patch volume and emergency hotfixes that historically drive many Windows security advisories.
Risks and engineering friction
- ABI and driver compatibility: Even carefully translated modules must present identical ABI and timing properties to avoid breaking third‑party drivers and firmware assumptions.
- Verification burden: Automated translation can produce syntactically correct Rust that subtly changes memory layout, alignment, or concurrency timing—risks that require exhaustive testing and proof artifacts.
- Operational disruption: Large changes in core components necessitate staged rollout, feature gating, and a mature rollback story—areas where Microsoft has improved but where scale amplifies risk.
- Cultural & tooling gap: Rust proficiency at systems scale is still scarce; hiring and training must accelerate in parallel with tooling or the program risks bottlenecks.
Windows platform changes: Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker and what to watch for
What shipped quietly
One of the quieter but materially important notes from the episode: Microsoft released hardware‑accelerated BitLocker in late 2025. This version of full‑disk encryption offloads cryptographic operations to modern CPU features and platform security modules, improving throughput and reducing performance impact—particularly important for high‑I/O workloads and NVMe systems. However, it requires the latest PC CPUs and firmware support to enable the hardware paths.Why this matters to IT and consumers
Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker promises encrypted devices without the substantial performance tax that has historically made full‑disk encryption feel sluggish on older hardware. For enterprises, that means encryption can realistically be enabled on a broader class of endpoint devices without harming user experience. For consumers, particularly content creators or gamers, the reduced overhead matters for heavy read/write workloads.But the shift also introduces operational considerations:
- Hardware dependence: Not all devices will support the new acceleration; procurement and lifecycle planning must reflect this.
- Recovery semantics: Hardware‑wrapped keys and silicon‑bound cryptography change recovery processes—key escrow and device replacement procedures must be updated.
- Imaging and hardware swaps: When keys are bound to silicon, motherboard swaps or major hardware changes require careful decryption planning or risk data loss.
Practical checklist for admins
- Inventory BitLocker state and OS versions across your fleet using manage‑bde / Get‑BitLockerVolume.
- Verify hardware support: confirm CPU microcode and firmware that advertise hardware encryption capabilities.
- Escrow keys: ensure recovery keys are stored in Entra ID (Azure AD) or your secure key vault before enabling hardware‑accelerated BitLocker.
- Pilot test: deploy to a pilot group with representative workloads and validate imaging/restore and motherboard swap scenarios.
- Update procurement criteria: require OEMs to document hardware‑accelerated BitLocker behavior and recovery flows.
Windows Insider, Copilot, and the evolving AI experience
Insider previews highlighted in the episode
Windows Insider updates remain the fastest way to see Microsoft’s trajectory. The episode recapped the latest preview cadence (updates as of mid‑December) where Microsoft expanded Copilot Vision editing features and previewed AI agents on the Taskbar—starting with a “Researcher” agent and the underlying Agent Launcher infrastructure. These signals show Microsoft moving from single‑tool assistants toward persistent, task‑focused agents that can take multi‑step actions across apps.Copilot app behavior and user control
Paul noted an update to the Copilot app that added text‑editing actions across Copilot Vision channels, a small but important usability improvement. At the same time, Microsoft is experimenting with how agents are surfaced (Taskbar pins, launchers, contextual suggestions), which raises user experience and privacy questions: how much autonomy should agents have, and how transparent will their actions be?Security and management implications
- Enterprise control: Admins must gain controls for agent permissions and telemetry; server‑side gating will likely continue to be used for phased rollouts.
- Privacy posture: Agents that act across apps increase the surface area for data access—audit and consent models need to be clear.
- Update cadence: Copilot and agent functionality may be gated on device type and licensing (Copilot+ hardware, etc., so expect staggered availability.
AI ecosystem: apps, killswitches, and the small‑tech counterplay
ChatGPT app store and Mozilla’s kill switch
Windows Weekly flagged two ecosystem developments: ChatGPT now running an app store model for extensions and experiences, and Mozilla adding a planned “killswitch” for AI features in Firefox. These moves reflect diverging industry responses: centralized platforms (app stores) to monetize and control AI extensions, and browser vendors offering user‑level safety controls in response to privacy and content concerns. Both trends will shape how AI features are consumed and regulated.LG and Copilot on TVs
A practical consumer win: LG announced that users will be able to remove the Copilot app from certain smart TVs, pushing back against forced AI app inclusion and signaling that consumer demand for choice and privacy remains potent. This is an important UX precedent—system apps should be removable when they collect or surface personalized data by default.Little AI vs Big Tech
Paul’s tip of the week—Little AI—is a repeatable strategic idea: small‑scale, locally controlled AI services (on device or in private cloud instances) can preserve privacy and trust while providing targeted automation. For many users and organizations, the tradeoff favors local agents that minimize third‑party data exposure. The Little Tech principle—size plus trust—continues to gain traction as an alternative to funneling everything through large, opaque AI clouds.Gaming: Xbox, Game Pass, and platform shifts
Early 2026 Game Pass and platform expansion
Windows Weekly covered the first Game Pass drops of 2026 (notable titles called out in the episode included Resident Evil Village and Star Wars Outlaws) and expanding cloud platforms: Xbox Cloud Gaming shipping to Hisense smart TVs and select Fire TV models, illustrating Microsoft’s push into living room streaming. These moves tighten Microsoft’s device reach while also increasing reliance on performant local networks and cloud availability.GOG, DRM, and Valve’s hardware choices
- GOG’s continued independence and DRM‑free stance were discussed as counterpoints to increasingly service‑tied ecosystems.
- Valve quietly discontinuing the LCD Steam Deck model is a reminder that hardware SKUs iterate rapidly; buyers should evaluate long‑term support and repairability when choosing handhelds.
RAM shortage and supply constraints: IDC’s warning (context and caution)
Windows Weekly referenced an IDC analysis warning that a global memory shortage—exacerbated by AI datacenter demand—could slow growth for PCs and smartphones. If true, this has direct implications: higher DRAM/NAND prices, constrained OEM supply, and delayed refresh cycles for enterprise fleets. The episode used this to explain potential hardware procurement stress in 2026.Readers should note: supply forecasts and pricing are volatile and regional. The claim that AI demand is compressing consumer device supply is plausible and aligns with broader industry reporting, but organizations should verify current contract terms and price projections with their hardware vendors before making procurement decisions. Treat IDC projections as an important signal, not a deterministic outcome.
Practical guidance: what Windows users and IT teams should do now
For enterprise IT (prioritized action list)
- Audit encryption posture and recovery workflows now—hardware‑accelerated BitLocker changes recovery semantics.
- Boost testing around driver compatibility and firmware interactions if you plan to adopt any Rust‑translated components—assume mixed‑language coexistence for the medium term.
- Validate Copilot agent governance: confirm permission models, telemetry collection, and grant policies before enabling agents at scale.
- Lock in procurement terms for DRAM/NAND or model refreshes if your refresh cycle depends on predictable supply and pricing. Treat IDC warnings as an input to negotiation.
- Expand test harnesses: add fuzzing and integration tests for any code paths likely to be translated or wrapped; require provenance artifacts for translated modules.
For consumers and enthusiasts
- If you rely on full‑disk encryption for performance‑sensitive tasks, prefer modern hardware that supports accelerated BitLocker.
- Try Little AI tools for sensitive tasks to keep private data local and reduce exposure to cloud processing.
- Gamers should consider the tradeoffs between cloud streaming (accessibility) and local hardware (latency/ownership) when evaluating Game Pass and new device integrations.
Critical analysis: balancing optimism with skepticism
Notable strengths from the episode’s coverage
- The emphasis on verification and staged deployment is the right stance for any program that touches OS internals. Microsoft’s public clarifications and hiring signals suggest a methodical approach rather than a reckless rewrite.
- Hardware‑accelerated BitLocker is an example of practical security engineering—the kind of platform improvement that benefits users without requiring a UX tradeoff.
- The episode’s attention to Little AI and user choice (removable Copilot on TVs, browser killswitches) highlights an important counterweight to centralized AI control.
Legitimate concerns and cautionary flags
- Automated translation at scale is promising but perilous: a flood of syntactically correct code that changes subtle behavior is still a recipe for system‑level regressions unless paired with extremely strong verification and staged rollout plans. The “one million lines” framing is useful for recruitment and motivation, but it must not obscure the verification burden.
- Hardware dependency for platform features (BitLocker) shifts complexity to procurement, imaging, and recovery processes. Some organizations will need to overhaul runbooks to avoid data loss during hardware repairs.
- The agentization of UI (Taskbar agents) raises privacy and governance questions that enterprise admins are not yet fully prepared to answer—consent models, audit trails, and least‑privilege controls must arrive before widescale deployment.
The longer arc: what to expect in 2026 and beyond
- Coexistence, not eradication: C and C++ will coexist with Rust for many years, bridged by ABI shims and careful interop. Expect hybrid stacks and gradual migration of high‑value, security‑sensitive subsystems first.
- Tooling and verification will be the bottleneck: investments in deterministic analyzers, unit and integration testing, and audit trails will determine success. Organizations should demand provenance artifacts for any auto‑translated module.
- Hardware gating accelerates premium features: Microsoft’s approach of gating features on newer silicon (Copilot+ hardware, hardware‑accelerated BitLocker) will continue, driving a two‑tier device market where capability and experience are increasingly hardware‑dependent.
- AI governance emerges as the defining policy conversation: browser killswitches, removable system apps, and on‑device AI alternatives will become common governance controls as organizations chase both innovation and trust.
Conclusion
Windows Weekly 965 painted a pragmatic, sometimes sobering picture: Microsoft’s technical ambitions (Rust migration at scale) pair with real, immediate platform changes (hardware‑accelerated BitLocker and Copilot agent previews). The blend of long‑range engineering work and near‑term operational shifts matters for everyone—from device purchasers and gamers to enterprise IT managers. The right posture is cautious optimism: embrace the security benefits Rust and hardware crypto promise, but demand proof, staged rollouts, and robust recovery procedures. Expect more experimentation in 2026, and prepare now—because the next wave of platform modernization will be measured in verifiable artifacts, not slogans.Source: Thurrott.com Windows Weekly 965: Almost Meat
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