Microsoft Copilot on Smart TVs: Limited Integration and Missed Opportunities

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Brace yourselves, folks—because AI is apparently poised to invade yet another screen in your life: the almighty TV! Yes, Microsoft Copilot is set to make its way to Samsung and LG televisions, but here’s the kicker—this isn’t some highly integrated, bleeding-edge TV functionality. Instead, it’s a thin layer of Copilot goodness served up as…wait for it…a web app. Cue the applause—or the collective groan.
Let’s unpack what this means for you, your TV, and AI integration in the living room.

What’s Actually Happening?

Both LG and Samsung have recently released press statements hyping their embrace of AI on their Smart TVs. Part of this strategy includes integrating Microsoft Copilot into their platforms. So, should you expect to fire up dazzling conversations with your TV or witness it spontaneously generate a personalized playlist that blows your mind? Not so fast. Here’s the truth: Copilot isn’t some magical evolution of AI that will elevate your viewing habits to meteoric levels—it’s merely the Copilot web app.
That’s right—Copilot on TVs will function like a glorified web link that serves the Copilot user interface, much like you’d access on a PC or laptop. It’s more akin to opening a Microsoft Edge tab than having a seamless “living room assistant.”
But wait—what’s all this for then? Let’s break it down.

What Can Microsoft Copilot Do on Your TV?

According to LG’s press release, their vision for AI might sound futuristic, promising users “revolutionary tools powered by Large Language Models (LLMs)” to enhance their viewing experience. On paper, that includes:
  • Customizable Backgrounds: Want your TV to display visuals based on your taste? Speak to Copilot, and it might churn out some thematic wallpaper customized for you.
  • Show Recommendations: Tap into viewing history and habits to feed you suggestions for what to binge-watch next.
Samsung reiterated similar ideas, sprinkling in buzzwords like “personalization” and “AI-driven capabilities.” But these upgrades focus more on traditional AI extras like better video upscaling (e.g., bumping HD up to pseudo-4K) and frame smoothing, which honestly have little to do with Microsoft Copilot itself.
When it comes to Copilot-specific functionality, however, don’t expect anything these AI-powered TVs can do beyond what you could already achieve on your laptop. For instance:
  • You’ll likely use Copilot to search for information or organize data.
  • It might offer contextual suggestions to find your favorite shows or settings easily.
In essence, it’s Copilot in name, but not in holistic, integrated functionality. Sort of like being told you’re invited to a feast, only to receive a menu and directions to the restaurant.

The Broader Perspective: Why Does This Feel... Lacking?

If your initial reaction is "Why?" you're not alone. AI integration on TVs could have been mind-blowingly innovative, but this feels like a missed opportunity. Why?

1. No True Integration

Instead of being embedded directly into Samsung’s Tizen OS or LG’s webOS, Copilot essentially operates as an external app or Smart TV widget.
This lack of integration creates friction for users. Instead of blending smoothly into the TV’s systems, you’ll likely need to toggle to the feature—shattering the seamless “smart hub” vision that AI promises.

2. It’s a Web App

At the heart of the disappointment is this: Copilot for TVs is basically just a website. You’re accessing the same back-end infrastructure that powers Copilot on a browser. This means no Voice AI baked deeply into your TV’s interface, nor any deep linking to settings or apps.
To put it simply: you’re bringing a paint bucket to dye the ocean; it doesn’t fundamentally change much.

Is This Just a Hype Train?

Microsoft perhaps hoped that aligning Copilot with Samsung and LG would appeal to the AI buzz that’s been shaking up everything from search engines to enterprise tools. But for the broader public, it might feel like more sizzle than steak.
Microsoft has had some notable wins with its Copilot AI branding in the enterprise and development realms. Tools like Github Copilot and Visual Studio Copilot revolutionized workflows. Even Adobe’s AI features in Photoshop feel leaps ahead by providing genuinely time-saving functionality. So far, however, Microsoft hasn’t managed to stumble upon a consumer-grade “killer app” to wow the general public. Copilot, even when integrated into Windows 11, didn’t crack this code.
Bringing it to televisions in such a basic form feels like, at best, an incremental step—and at worst, a misstep.

Could This Have Been More? Absolutely!

Imagine what Copilot could have done if Microsoft, Samsung, and LG seriously committed to deeper innovation:
  1. Voice Commands on Steroids:
    Instead of cookie-cutter search functions, imagine asking your LG TV, “What’s that one episode of Friends where Ross says he loves Rachel?” and having the TV pull up the exact episode in seconds.
  2. Hands-Free Smart Home Integration:
    Copilot could bridge smart TVs with existing smart home ecosystems (e.g., controlling Philips Hue lights based on what you’re watching). How about dimming the lights automatically when you queue up a movie?
  3. Dynamic Scene Mode:
    AI could analyze the mood or tone of what you’re watching and tweak display settings dynamically—for example, a horror scene might darken contrast while suppressing light bleed.

Tech Giants in Competition

Interestingly, Microsoft isn’t monopolizing this space. Samsung’s reference to collaborating with Google on their cutting-edge “Gemini” AI and Vision AI projects means competition is equally fierce. Google hasn't fully nailed consumer trust with AI due to past missteps (YouTube or Search-related mishaps), but their ambitions in AI-powered video could soon overshadow feature-poor integrations like Copilot's.

Final Verdict

Microsoft Copilot coming to TVs? Great in theory, but poor in execution for now. It’s essentially a gateway to the internet delivered with a lot of buzzwords—dressed in AI hype like a tuxedo on laundry day. For users hoping to see something closer to Tony Stark’s Jarvis embedded in their living rooms, this iteration of Copilot is likely to disappoint.
Attention, AI innovators: Consider this constructive feedback. Copilot on TVs could herald an exciting frontier. But we’ve got a long road ahead before your TV stops being a screen and becomes a true assistant.
Still curious? Stay tuned—we’ll keep you updated if someone figures out how to bridge the Copilot gap meaningfully!

Source: Windows Central Samsung and LG TV sets are set to get Microsoft Copilot AI, but it's basically just a link to the website again
 


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