Microsoft’s Copilot was unveiled with tremendous ambition, pitched as the productivity companion destined to reshape the way we interact with Windows, Office, and even the web itself. But a year after its deep integration into Windows 11, Microsoft 365, and the Edge browser, the numbers paint a sobering picture: user interest in Copilot has largely plateaued. Even as the company throws billions into AI research and design partnerships, the quantum leap of user engagement just hasn’t materialized.
At a recent Microsoft executive meeting, CFO Amy Hood presented a figure that cuts through all the hype: Copilot claims around 20 million weekly users—a number it has hovered near for an entire year. By contrast, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, partly powered by Microsoft’s own investment and technical infrastructure, has soared to over 400 million weekly users. The message to Microsoft’s leadership was unmistakable. Despite Copilot being built into the core of its ecosystem—Windows 11, Microsoft 365, Edge—most Windows users remain unmoved by the prospect of interacting with Copilot on a regular basis.
The comparison is more damning when considering that Copilot and ChatGPT share considerable underlying technology. Microsoft, after all, uses OpenAI’s models to power Copilot. Yet, for the typical user, something about ChatGPT is sticky in a way Copilot simply isn’t.
It’s also a problem of perception and branding. ChatGPT became the household name for conversational AI by being the first viral generative AI people tried, not because it had a killer productivity trick over Copilot. For most, the entry point to AI chatbots was curiosity—“let’s see what all the fuss is about”—and OpenAI reaped the first-mover advantage. Copilot, despite its prominent placement and deep integration, feels like a corporate feature rather than a breakout standalone product. Microsoft’s branding as a “copilot” rather than “an assistant” or “AI friend” may have contributed to its underwhelming public profile, especially outside enterprise circles.
Compare this to the “destination app” experience of ChatGPT. When users visit chat.openai.com, they are making the deliberate choice to interact with AI—they’re there for the chatbot, and nothing else. This intentionality breeds engagement, experimentation, and routine use. Copilot’s model is more ambient; it seeks to help only when summoned but struggles to create habits.
What’s evident is that simply attaching a powerful AI engine to old paradigms doesn’t guarantee user adoption. Microsoft’s executives reportedly see this as a call to action, not as a debacle. To that end, they recently “acqui-hired” Mustafa Suleyman and his Inflection AI team, tasking them with reimagining Copilot as a “true consumer product.” Early steps—such as Copilot’s new ability to take actions on websites and a fresh interface—may hint at a broader reinvention in the works.
In the browser edge case, Copilot’s in-context summarization of articles and web data can be a godsend for those overwhelmed by information. It can triage emails, summarize long reports, and transform frantic context-switching into focused productivity. For the right audience, these are compelling advances.
Yet, for every early adopter extolling these features, there are countless more users who’ve either never clicked the Copilot button or can’t find a compelling reason to do so. The underlying AI is impressive, but its value proposition is not universally obvious.
Also, there’s the risk of “feature fatigue.” Windows and Office are complex, mature products. Users faced with an ever-expanding feature set, especially when core experiences are stable and familiar, may simply tune out new additions. With Copilot, there’s also the psychological barrier: many worry about privacy, data security, or simply distrust that a machine can reliably “help” with meaningful work.
Perhaps most troubling for Microsoft is the possible misalignment between where AI is currently making a difference (creative chatbots, research summarization, conversational fun) and where Copilot is positioned (serious productivity, business-centric tasks, enterprise control). The consumer AI market is fickle, and a failure to forge emotional, memorable connections with end users could let more nimble, standalone competitors capture mindshare.
Already, Suleyman’s touch is visible in a streamlined Copilot interface and in new features that allow the AI to take actions on behalf of users. This is a step toward bridging the gap between passive suggestion and active, tangible help. If future iterations can start to anticipate user needs, take smart actions proactively, and even entertain or inspire, there’s hope that Copilot could become indispensable—but Microsoft is locked in a race with not just OpenAI, but Google, Meta, and a galaxy of nimble startups with their own AI platforms.
Redmond’s strategic challenge is twofold. First, it must convince users that Copilot isn’t just a silent partner buried in the taskbar, but an ever-ready assistant ready to solve real problems. Second, it needs to differentiate Copilot—not just as “ChatGPT inside Microsoft products,” but as unique, indispensable software in its own right. That means more than interface tweaks and incremental skills; it calls for signature use cases that give users a recurring reason to return. Whether that’s creative content, task automation, system-level orchestration, or simply making Windows less of a chore, it will require vision and patience.
Security and privacy could be a selling point that differentiates Copilot from rivals perceived as less trustworthy, especially among businesses. Microsoft may lean further into its enterprise DNA, promising granular control over data, compliance, and transparency.
Copilot also has massive potential in accessibility, bridging digital divides for users who struggle with traditional computing interfaces, by becoming a voice-activated, conversational guide. The assistive technology angle is both a moral and business imperative, and Microsoft’s scale could make a profound difference here.
Lastly, a focus on continuous user education and delight—helping everyone from students to retirees see “what’s possible” through Copilot, in natural language rather than corporate jargon—could pave the way for organic habit formation, much as the earliest days of the web browser did.
The coming months will be critical. With the right blend of visionary leadership, hard-nosed accountability, and, crucially, a little consumer magic, Copilot could yet emerge as the indispensable companion Microsoft always imagined. But it will require Microsoft to dispense with old habits and finally put the needs, habits, and aspirations of their core users first.
For now, most Windows users are content to ignore Copilot. The ball is in Microsoft’s court—and the world is watching to see if they can turn latent potential into genuine, everyday relevance.
Source: Engadget It seems like most Windows users don't care for Copilot
The Numbers Speak: Comparing Copilot to ChatGPT
At a recent Microsoft executive meeting, CFO Amy Hood presented a figure that cuts through all the hype: Copilot claims around 20 million weekly users—a number it has hovered near for an entire year. By contrast, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, partly powered by Microsoft’s own investment and technical infrastructure, has soared to over 400 million weekly users. The message to Microsoft’s leadership was unmistakable. Despite Copilot being built into the core of its ecosystem—Windows 11, Microsoft 365, Edge—most Windows users remain unmoved by the prospect of interacting with Copilot on a regular basis.The comparison is more damning when considering that Copilot and ChatGPT share considerable underlying technology. Microsoft, after all, uses OpenAI’s models to power Copilot. Yet, for the typical user, something about ChatGPT is sticky in a way Copilot simply isn’t.
Why Hasn’t Copilot Resonated?
There are numerous factors behind Copilot’s underwhelming adoption. The most apparent is inertia. For all the noise around AI, many daily computing tasks remain unchanged. Typing an email, creating a spreadsheet, browsing a website—most users don’t perceive the friction Copilot promises to eliminate. While the productivity gains are real for a subset of “power users” or the curious, most people are still figuring out exactly how Copilot’s contextual suggestions or summarized answers fit into their established workflow.It’s also a problem of perception and branding. ChatGPT became the household name for conversational AI by being the first viral generative AI people tried, not because it had a killer productivity trick over Copilot. For most, the entry point to AI chatbots was curiosity—“let’s see what all the fuss is about”—and OpenAI reaped the first-mover advantage. Copilot, despite its prominent placement and deep integration, feels like a corporate feature rather than a breakout standalone product. Microsoft’s branding as a “copilot” rather than “an assistant” or “AI friend” may have contributed to its underwhelming public profile, especially outside enterprise circles.
Deep Integration as a Double-Edged Sword
Microsoft made the strategic decision to bake Copilot directly into its most essential products. On paper, this puts AI at the fingertips of hundreds of millions of users. But this elegant integration may also render it invisible. For users who aren’t nudged, educated, or incentivized to invoke Copilot, its presence doesn’t drive engagement. In Windows 11, for example, the Copilot button is prominent, but easily ignored. The average user’s routine doesn’t demand constant interaction with a sidebar AI, and when features are surfaced in context (like summarizing a webpage or assisting with Excel formulas), the change is often incremental rather than revolutionary.Compare this to the “destination app” experience of ChatGPT. When users visit chat.openai.com, they are making the deliberate choice to interact with AI—they’re there for the chatbot, and nothing else. This intentionality breeds engagement, experimentation, and routine use. Copilot’s model is more ambient; it seeks to help only when summoned but struggles to create habits.
A Missed Opportunity or a Slow Burn?
Given the monumental investment and bold vision, is Copilot’s flatlining popularity a failure, or just a slow burn waiting for a tipping point? Here’s where the interpretation gets interesting. Microsoft’s efforts to redefine how mass market users generate content, collaborate, and automate tasks are still nascent. The path to shifting user habits in a mature ecosystem like Windows is never short; after all, even wildly successful features (think: Windows Taskbar, Office Clippy, Cortana) took years to find their audience—if they ever did.What’s evident is that simply attaching a powerful AI engine to old paradigms doesn’t guarantee user adoption. Microsoft’s executives reportedly see this as a call to action, not as a debacle. To that end, they recently “acqui-hired” Mustafa Suleyman and his Inflection AI team, tasking them with reimagining Copilot as a “true consumer product.” Early steps—such as Copilot’s new ability to take actions on websites and a fresh interface—may hint at a broader reinvention in the works.
Copilot’s Strengths: Subtle, Not Spectacular
It’s essential not to understate what Copilot does well. Power users—knowledge workers, developers, enterprise customers—are starting to embrace Copilot’s contextually aware features, especially those deeply embedded within Microsoft 365. Automating repetitive document creation, suggesting email replies, providing quick data analysis in Excel—these are true productivity wins, shaving hours off tedious tasks for professionals.In the browser edge case, Copilot’s in-context summarization of articles and web data can be a godsend for those overwhelmed by information. It can triage emails, summarize long reports, and transform frantic context-switching into focused productivity. For the right audience, these are compelling advances.
Yet, for every early adopter extolling these features, there are countless more users who’ve either never clicked the Copilot button or can’t find a compelling reason to do so. The underlying AI is impressive, but its value proposition is not universally obvious.
Risks and Unintended Consequences
The slow adoption of Copilot raises some uncomfortable risks for Microsoft. For one, the company has hitched its AI wagon so closely to OpenAI that their fortunes are intertwined. Any stumble by OpenAI—technical, business, or regulatory—ricochets into Copilot’s effectiveness and Microsoft’s core pitch to enterprise and consumer customers. Microsoft’s push to reduce dependence on OpenAI, as flagged by its recent acquisition moves, is a prudent hedge, but will take years to truly deliver independence in AI research and deployment.Also, there’s the risk of “feature fatigue.” Windows and Office are complex, mature products. Users faced with an ever-expanding feature set, especially when core experiences are stable and familiar, may simply tune out new additions. With Copilot, there’s also the psychological barrier: many worry about privacy, data security, or simply distrust that a machine can reliably “help” with meaningful work.
Perhaps most troubling for Microsoft is the possible misalignment between where AI is currently making a difference (creative chatbots, research summarization, conversational fun) and where Copilot is positioned (serious productivity, business-centric tasks, enterprise control). The consumer AI market is fickle, and a failure to forge emotional, memorable connections with end users could let more nimble, standalone competitors capture mindshare.
The Evolution of Copilot: Suleyman’s Vision and Consumer Rebirth
Microsoft’s response to Copilot’s inertia is bold and telling. By snapping up Mustafa Suleyman, the respected co-founder of DeepMind and Inflection AI, and placing him in charge of Copilot’s transformation, Redmond has signaled that AI assistant strategy now hinges on consumer love, not just enterprise adoption. The pivot is clear: Copilot can no longer merely be “good enough” as a supplemental feature for power users. It needs to stake its claim as the default digital companion for a new generation of Windows users who expect conversational intelligence, seamless help, and engaging interaction.Already, Suleyman’s touch is visible in a streamlined Copilot interface and in new features that allow the AI to take actions on behalf of users. This is a step toward bridging the gap between passive suggestion and active, tangible help. If future iterations can start to anticipate user needs, take smart actions proactively, and even entertain or inspire, there’s hope that Copilot could become indispensable—but Microsoft is locked in a race with not just OpenAI, but Google, Meta, and a galaxy of nimble startups with their own AI platforms.
Microsoft’s Shot at Redemption: Not Too Late, But No Longer Early
The battle for AI assistant dominance is only just beginning. Microsoft finds itself in an unusual position: flush with resources, a critical mass of technology, and an audience of hundreds of millions, but still relatively early in figuring out how to ignite AI habit formation. Copilot’s current malaise is not irreversible, but it demands a sharper focus on user experience, emotional engagement, and frictionless utility rather than just technical prowess.Redmond’s strategic challenge is twofold. First, it must convince users that Copilot isn’t just a silent partner buried in the taskbar, but an ever-ready assistant ready to solve real problems. Second, it needs to differentiate Copilot—not just as “ChatGPT inside Microsoft products,” but as unique, indispensable software in its own right. That means more than interface tweaks and incremental skills; it calls for signature use cases that give users a recurring reason to return. Whether that’s creative content, task automation, system-level orchestration, or simply making Windows less of a chore, it will require vision and patience.
Where Copilot Could Still Win
There are clear lanes where Copilot could surge ahead if Microsoft accepts the lessons of ChatGPT’s runaway success. Making Copilot “destination-worthy” rather than invisible may be essential: perhaps through dedicated Copilot experiences as apps or integrated dashboards, making AI not only ambient, but also accessible on demand for deeper tasks.Security and privacy could be a selling point that differentiates Copilot from rivals perceived as less trustworthy, especially among businesses. Microsoft may lean further into its enterprise DNA, promising granular control over data, compliance, and transparency.
Copilot also has massive potential in accessibility, bridging digital divides for users who struggle with traditional computing interfaces, by becoming a voice-activated, conversational guide. The assistive technology angle is both a moral and business imperative, and Microsoft’s scale could make a profound difference here.
Lastly, a focus on continuous user education and delight—helping everyone from students to retirees see “what’s possible” through Copilot, in natural language rather than corporate jargon—could pave the way for organic habit formation, much as the earliest days of the web browser did.
Final Thoughts: Copilot at a Crossroads
Microsoft’s Copilot is not a failure—it remains a formidable example of consumer-facing AI at scale, blending years of research, mountains of data, and the ambitions of one of tech’s biggest titans. But the last year’s flat user growth is a piercing reality check, not just for Redmond, but for everyone betting on AI assistants as the next computing revolution.The coming months will be critical. With the right blend of visionary leadership, hard-nosed accountability, and, crucially, a little consumer magic, Copilot could yet emerge as the indispensable companion Microsoft always imagined. But it will require Microsoft to dispense with old habits and finally put the needs, habits, and aspirations of their core users first.
For now, most Windows users are content to ignore Copilot. The ball is in Microsoft’s court—and the world is watching to see if they can turn latent potential into genuine, everyday relevance.
Source: Engadget It seems like most Windows users don't care for Copilot
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