Televisions, the reigning monarchs of living room entertainment, have long been equated with binge-watching marathons, family movie nights, and Sunday sports. But what if your TV was more than a screen? What if it became a digital assistant, a companion for your daily routines? That’s seemingly the vision Microsoft is chasing with its ambitious move to integrate its AI-powered Copilot platform into LG and Samsung’s latest TV line-ups. Let’s dig into this unexpected development, dissect what this means for users, and evaluate whether the idea of having Copilot in your TV is a game-changer—or just a fleeting novelty.
Here’s what each company claims Microsoft Copilot AI will bring:
Tech gurus following this development will remember LG previously showcasing its own AI chatbot integration for TVs. It was like having a built-in Alexa, albeit a tad clunky. However, this Copilot integration suggests users could perform searches on-screen or even take advantage of tailored suggestions, reorganizing how you access content and information. This addition could amplify LG TVs’ usability beyond just flipping through channels or hunting for Netflix's elusive "Continue Watching" section.
But the broader question here is whether these features will truly redefine how we use TVs or whether they’ll simply remain a novelty reserved for tech enthusiasts.
However, integrating productivity-focused AI into a TV challenges its core mission. You’re likely not drafting emails mid-movie-night, so how does Microsoft reimagine Copilot for televisions?
Where Copilot has succeeded in key productivity settings (like Microsoft 365), its utility on televisions may feel niche or over-engineered for now. However, long-term, it’s moves like these that stack the deck for smarter, more integrated homes. While us humans are left puzzling whether we truly need AI to manage our popcorn-laden binge fests, Microsoft is playing the long game: owning the AI conversation across platforms.
So, should you worry about getting one of these Copilot-enabled TVs? Not yet—but keep an eye on how this experiment unfolds. The real question you should be asking your TV isn’t about Copilot—it’s whether it can find that obscure indie flick across four streaming services faster than you can!
Source: Stuff South Africa LG And Samsung Announce Microsoft Copilot AI TV Integration... For Some Reason - Stuff South Africa
What’s the Deal with Microsoft Copilot in TVs?
LG and Samsung, powerhouses of entertainment technology, are embracing Microsoft Copilot AI as if it’s the next big thing you never knew your TV needed. Both brands have announced new TV models equipped with Copilot integration, unveiled at CES 2025. Now, if you’re envisioning chatting with your television about the weather or asking it existential questions while it flickers silently in response, think again.Here’s what each company claims Microsoft Copilot AI will bring:
LG's Approach—Redefining “Smart” TVs
LG promises a “dedicated AI section” on its TVs, alongside the reinvention of its flagship remote control, which will now be known as the “AI Remote.” Rather than being merely renamed, the remote intends to play a key role in allowing users to “efficiently find and organize complex information using contextual cues.”Tech gurus following this development will remember LG previously showcasing its own AI chatbot integration for TVs. It was like having a built-in Alexa, albeit a tad clunky. However, this Copilot integration suggests users could perform searches on-screen or even take advantage of tailored suggestions, reorganizing how you access content and information. This addition could amplify LG TVs’ usability beyond just flipping through channels or hunting for Netflix's elusive "Continue Watching" section.
Samsung’s Vision: The Rise of Vision AI
Samsung isn’t one to be outdone. It went all in by forming a dedicated "Vision AI" division that focuses on AI-based TV features. This includes:- AI Upscaling: Automatically improves video resolution on lower-quality content.
- Auto HDR Remastering: Enhances the color depth of older videos.
- Adaptive Sound Pro: Tailors audio output to your environment.
But the broader question here is whether these features will truly redefine how we use TVs or whether they’ll simply remain a novelty reserved for tech enthusiasts.
Demystifying Microsoft Copilot: What Exactly Is It?
For the uninitiated, Microsoft Copilot isn’t a standalone AI personality like Siri or Google Assistant. Instead, think of it as a toolkit—a multi-purpose platform designed to enhance the way you interact with services and devices. In its original incarnation within Microsoft 365 (formerly Office), Copilot was designed to help users draft emails, manage tasks, and process large data sets. In essence, it’s your productivity sidekick: always ready to offer smart suggestions or complete repetitive tasks.However, integrating productivity-focused AI into a TV challenges its core mission. You’re likely not drafting emails mid-movie-night, so how does Microsoft reimagine Copilot for televisions?
- Content Curation: Instead of endless doom scrolling on apps, Copilot may prioritize shows or movies based on your viewing habits.
- Enhanced Search: Tackles annoying TV tasks like searching through multiple apps to find out where a show is streaming.
- Lifestyle Extensions: With tools to integrate smart home gadgets, Microsoft Copilot might connect your living room to the broader IoT ecosystem (lighting, security cameras, thermostats, etc.).
A Marriage of Convenience or the Future of Entertainment?
What Does Microsoft Gain?
Microsoft is taking an “everything with a screen” approach to AI. TVs represent virgin territory for AI solutions like Copilot—and with LG and Samsung onboard, this is no small entry. For Microsoft, this partnership is less about instant revenue and more about staking a claim in the next frontier of connected entertainment. If Copilot on TVs takes off, it could lead to greater adoption of Microsoft’s ecosystem across homes.Benefits for the Users
- Convenience Galore: Potentially quicker access to all your favorite content and answers to random questions mid-episode.
- Connected Living: TVs becoming command hubs for IoT-enabled homes extends their utility far beyond watching the news.
- Cutting Through Digital Clutter: With AI at the helm, users could navigate today's bloated streaming platforms more efficiently.
- Will users experience improved accessibility through voice commands or remote shortcuts?
- What are the real-world limitations of integrating Copilot?
- How secure is an AI-powered TV—especially with features such as food recognition or home security tie-ins?
Skeptics Beware
Despite its allure, AI in TVs is a proposition not everyone will warm to—and here’s why:- Privacy Concerns: A TV equipped with AI raises legitimate concerns about data collection, live analysis, and how this information is shared across ecosystems.
- Feature Overload: By cramming in AI tools, there’s a risk of overcomplicating something quintessentially simple: turning on the TV and watching what you love.
- Execution Issues: As seen with many first-gen “innovations,” there’s often a gap between the promise of AI and how it performs. Smart assistants like Google Assistant built up high expectations for fluid integration but often met with mixed reviews.
- Value-Add or Gimmick? Many potential buyers will question Copilot's practicality versus the price premium these enhanced AI-powered systems may command.
Closing Thoughts: Ready for Prime Time?
Let’s be clear: the idea of Microsoft Copilot on TVs isn’t inherently bad. But it’s not going to revolutionize your living room overnight. It’s essentially a 2025 twist on the smart TV formula we’ve seen evolve for years—dropping AI into yet another piece of tech and hoping it sticks.Where Copilot has succeeded in key productivity settings (like Microsoft 365), its utility on televisions may feel niche or over-engineered for now. However, long-term, it’s moves like these that stack the deck for smarter, more integrated homes. While us humans are left puzzling whether we truly need AI to manage our popcorn-laden binge fests, Microsoft is playing the long game: owning the AI conversation across platforms.
So, should you worry about getting one of these Copilot-enabled TVs? Not yet—but keep an eye on how this experiment unfolds. The real question you should be asking your TV isn’t about Copilot—it’s whether it can find that obscure indie flick across four streaming services faster than you can!
Source: Stuff South Africa LG And Samsung Announce Microsoft Copilot AI TV Integration... For Some Reason - Stuff South Africa