Windows Weekly’s latest show distilled a year of Windows 11 change into a brisk, opinionated hour: from practical AI tools that actually help you get work done to hardware- and platform-level moves that reshape PC gaming and raise fresh privacy and product‑management questions. The episode’s takeaways are useful because they separate the real, ship‑level progress of 2025 from the hype cycles and marketing language that have dominated so much AI conversation — and they point squarely at the tensions Microsoft must manage in 2026: product usefulness, platform control, and consumer choice.
Microsoft spent 2025 shipping two parallel kinds of updates: developer- and engineering-heavy platform work (emulation improvements, DirectX runtime updates, improved anti‑cheat coordination) and user-facing AI experiences tied to the Copilot brand (on-device small models, Click to Do, Recall, Studio Effects). The difference matters: one set fixes long-standing architectural bottlenecks; the other changes daily workflows for millions of people — for better and for worse.
That split shows up in the episode’s major threads: meaningful progress on Windows‑on‑Arm compatibility and handheld gaming, a broad rollout of Copilot-driven features for Copilot+ PCs, and the awkward marketing and product decisions around forced preloaded AI (notably Copilot arriving on smart TVs). The show’s hosts argued, persuasively, that 2025’s most important wins were those that moved Windows’ foundations — not just its paint job — even while cautioning that many of the AI ambitions are still fragile or gated by hardware and server flags.
The real test for Microsoft in 2026 will not be whether it can ship more features but whether it can make them coherent and controllable: AI that helps without surprising users; device entitlements that don’t fragment experiences; and platform updates that empower choice rather than forcing it. Windows 11 in 2025 moved the needle in many important ways — but how those gains are governed, explained, and democratized will decide whether the progress is durable or merely ephemeral.
Source: Thurrott.com Windows Weekly 963: I’ve Got An Apple Guy
Background / Overview
Microsoft spent 2025 shipping two parallel kinds of updates: developer- and engineering-heavy platform work (emulation improvements, DirectX runtime updates, improved anti‑cheat coordination) and user-facing AI experiences tied to the Copilot brand (on-device small models, Click to Do, Recall, Studio Effects). The difference matters: one set fixes long-standing architectural bottlenecks; the other changes daily workflows for millions of people — for better and for worse.That split shows up in the episode’s major threads: meaningful progress on Windows‑on‑Arm compatibility and handheld gaming, a broad rollout of Copilot-driven features for Copilot+ PCs, and the awkward marketing and product decisions around forced preloaded AI (notably Copilot arriving on smart TVs). The show’s hosts argued, persuasively, that 2025’s most important wins were those that moved Windows’ foundations — not just its paint job — even while cautioning that many of the AI ambitions are still fragile or gated by hardware and server flags.
What actually shipped in 2025: the practical list
The episode highlights many specific Windows 11 changes that became visible to users in 2025. These aren’t marketing fluff — they’re features you can point at and, in many cases, turn on or test today.Major user-facing features (Copilot+ and broader)
- Click to Do — contextual, Win+Click actions that let Copilot operate on whatever’s on screen: summarize, rewrite, remove image backgrounds, and draft into Office apps. This feature is a Copilot+ PC flagship and can be disabled in Settings. Microsoft documentation and release notes confirm this behavior and show how it’s delivered as a Copilot+ capability.
- Recall and improved on‑device search — periodic local snapshots and semantic, natural‑language search on Copilot+ PCs (opt‑in, privacy‑conscious, and gated by Windows Hello ESS authentication). The rollout was controversial and delayed; when it arrived it was positioned as encrypted, locally held content accessible only via device authentication. Microsoft’s product pages and the Windows Experience blog explain the rollout and limits.
- Windows Studio Effects expanded to external webcams — NPU‑accelerated camera effects (eye contact, background blur, portrait lighting) can be applied to alternate USB cameras on supported Copilot+ machines when OEM drivers and the Studio Effects pipeline are present. This is an Insider‑first expansion that will be subject to hardware, driver, and OEM gating.
- Click‑and‑ask AI in core apps — generative image and editing tools in Paint (background removal, generative fill/erase), Photos (super‑resolution, relight), Notepad (writing tools, Markdown support), and Snipping Tool (Ask Copilot) landed in various previews and production updates. Many of these are controllable by IT and can be disabled if organizations prefer.
- File Explorer and dark mode improvements; redesigned Start menu — polish and usability changes rather than dramatic UI reinventions. These are the smaller, quality‑of‑life wins that add up for daily users.
- Xbox Full Screen Experience (FSE) — a console‑style, controller‑first shell optimized for handheld Windows devices (ROG Xbox Ally family and similar hardware) that reduces background work and improves session consistency. FSE expanded beyond initial Ally devices and began rolling out to other handhelds and even wider Windows devices via Insider channels.
Low‑level and platform plumbing that matters
- Prism emulator enhancements (AVX/AVX2 and related ISA support) — a decisive emulation upgrade that makes many previously failing x64 titles launch on Windows‑on‑Arm devices by advertising and translating additional x86 extensions. Microsoft’s own engineering blog and independent outlets confirm the expanded ISA support and the practical impact for apps like Premiere and many modern games. This is the sort of foundation‑level change that turns “Arm as an experiment” into “Arm as a real choice.”
- Anti‑cheat and driver coordination — vendors and platform teams made headway enabling native or validated anti‑cheat support on Arm, and vendors (Qualcomm, OEMs) worked to speed driver delivery and per‑title optimizations. That cooperation was required to make local installs and multiplayer on Arm devices feasible.
- Foundational security and maintainability features — Quick Machine Recovery, Admin Protection, Smart App Control updates, and other infrastructure improvements that reduce the operational burden and repair time for broken machines. These changes are smaller headline‑wise but very consequential for IT teams.
Why these things matter — practical analysis
2025’s feature set can be grouped into two meaningful thrusts: enlarging the capabilities of the platform (Prism, DirectX, anti‑cheat, FSE) and embedding AI that changes workflows (Click to Do, Recall, on‑device models). Both are essential, but they come with different trade‑offs.Platform engineering wins change the product’s risk profile
Upgrading the Prism emulator to expose AVX/AVX2 and related extensions removes a major roadblock that previously forced either heavy engineering work or outright incompatibility for many apps on Arm. That reduces friction for users who want thinner, longer‑battery devices without giving up their existing desktop software.- Strength: It expands the device choice set — professionals who need Adobe or DAW software can now consider Snapdragon X‑series machines in the same conversation as Intel and AMD laptops. Microsoft and Qualcomm’s joint work here materially increases compatibility.
- Risk / Caveat: Emulation still has overhead. For demanding real‑time workloads (high‑frequency trading simulations, pro video rendering, competitive eSports), native x64 silicon will retain an advantage. Many high‑end titles will still require careful per‑title testing; emulation doesn’t magically equal native performance. The Microsoft blog itself explicitly states compatibility and hardware gating limitations.
AI features change how people do things — but not always in expected directions
Features like Click to Do and on‑device semantic search are the real productivity differentiators: they reduce friction between seeing information and acting on it. For example, being able to highlight a block of text anywhere on-screen and instantly generate a draft in Word or post to Teams is a genuine shortcut.- Strength: On‑device models and local inference improve latency and preserve privacy boundaries compared with cloud‑only approaches. Microsoft’s packaging of model binaries for offline use was deliberate and targeted to Copilot+ hardware with NPUs. That approach yields fast, usable experiences for supported devices.
- Risk: Gating and entitlements create a fragmentation problem. Many features are Copilot+ only or limited to platforms with NPUs and OEM certification; others arrive as server‑side flags. This creates a confusing matrix for consumers: identical Windows versions but different capabilities depending on device SKU, OEM drivers, and cloud entitlements. The episode’s hosts flagged this source of user frustration, and the criticism is valid.
The Copilot distribution problem: usefulness vs. coercion
Perhaps the most consequential consumer story of December 2025 was not a Windows release note but a TV: LG smart‑TV owners found Microsoft’s Copilot tile automatically installed and pinned to home screens after a webOS update — and users reported no uninstall option. The backlash was immediate and broad across social channels and technology outlets. Independent coverage makes the point: forcing an AI assistant into devices without clear uninstall or disable options provokes the same trust and privacy questions that long‑standing “bloatware” practices have always raised.- Why this is important: When platform owners make an AI agent a non‑removable system app, they shift the debate from technical capability to consumer control and consent. Smart TVs are intimate devices: microphones, cameras, and viewing patterns raise privacy stakes. Compulsory bundling of AI agents — even web‑based shortcuts — feeds distrust and will accelerate regulatory and consumer pushback.
- Microsoft’s position: the company frames Copilot integrations as helpful — a way to access voice interactions and generative search on many devices. But the distribution choice (non‑removable, system‑level tiles) is a business decision with product and reputational consequences. Expect vendor responses and possibly policy or firmware changes as consumer pressure mounts.
Gaming: a coordinated, cross‑stack push — tangible wins and remaining limits
2025 was the year Microsoft and partners stopped treating gaming fixes as piecemeal and instead attacked them across the stack. That means:- Emulation (Prism) to remove compatibility dead‑stops.
- Driver and GPU control panels (Qualcomm’s Snapdragon/Adreno updates) to accelerate per‑title optimization.
- Native anti‑cheat support and storefront changes to permit local installs on Arm devices and multiplayer access.
- Windows UX changes — Xbox Full Screen Experience and Advanced Shader Delivery — to reduce shader‑compile stutters and improve session performance on constrained devices.
- Strength: The cross‑stack approach is how platform engineering should be done — not just surface features but kernel, scheduler, driver and developer tooling work together.
- Risk: For competitive gamers and those demanding top FPS and settings, Arm handhelds and emulation will still be a trade‑off. And publisher choices about shipping ARM64 builds will determine how many big titles feel truly native.
Legal and platform battles that shape the ecosystem
Windows Weekly touched on the broader ecosystem moves in 2025 — the most consequential of which was Epic Games’ continued legal victories and returns to mainstream app stores. Epic’s Fortnite returned to iOS earlier in the spring and, more recently, to the U.S. Google Play Store after court action and negotiations. Those outcomes matter because they reshape app‑store economics and distribution norms — directly affecting developer business models and the reach of competing app catalogs. Reputable news outlets covered these developments as material shifts in mobile platform policy.- Implication for Windows and PC platform owners: the app‑store landscape is in flux; cross‑platform policy changes in mobile can influence expectations for desktop ecosystems (e.g., sideloading, alternate payment methods). Microsoft must balance its own incentives (monetization, control) against developer demands for openness.
People and leadership: Mustafa Suleyman and the AI narrative
Windows Weekly singled out Mustafa Suleyman’s new role and recent interviews as critical context for why Microsoft’s Copilot strategy should be taken seriously. Suleyman — a high‑profile hire from DeepMind and Inflection — is leading Microsoft’s consumer AI efforts. Independent reporting confirms his appointment and his emphasis on safety‑aware, human‑centered AI product strategy. Suleyman’s profile and public statements matter because leadership shapes product priorities: whether Microsoft doubles down on local, safe agents or emphasizes cloud‑driven agentic features will determine many product trade‑offs in 2026.- Notable observation from the episode: Microsoft has both experimental labs (Windows AI Lab) and heavyweight marketing for agent features — but the actual agentic experiences remain brittle in many cases. The contrast between marketing and what works in practice is a recurring theme and a legitimate critique.
What the hosts got right — and where they were skeptical for good reason
- Right: The hosts emphasized that the most valuable 2025 work was platform engineering — Prism updates, DirectX improvements, driver coordination, and anti‑cheat support. Those changes make Windows more durable and increase real user choices. The evidence from Microsoft’s engineering blog and independent reporting supports that assessment.
- Right: The episode questioned the wisdom of broad Copilot branding and confusing device marketing (Copilot+ PCs, AI PCs, etc.. Fragmented naming plus hardware gating invites confusion about what features are actually available to which users. Microsoft’s rollout design (model blobs, server flags, Copilot+ entitlements) is technically defensible but organizationally messy.
- Skepticism warranted: The hosts raised red flags about forced AI on consumer devices (smart TVs) and the marketing of "agentic" features that don’t yet function reliably. Those criticisms are supported by the public pushback on Copilot on TVs and the repeated commentary from users and journalists about agent promises versus delivery.
Notable claims that remain unverified or are rumors
- Half‑Life 3 as a Steam Machine launch title and similar high‑profile game rumors should be treated as unverified until publishers make formal announcements. The episode acknowledged the rumor nature of some claims; independent confirmation is not available, so those items should be labeled speculative. This is the correct stance for journalists and readers alike.
- Pricing claims for niche browsers or services (e.g., “Opera Neon $20/month”) require vendor confirmation. Opera’s product names and subscription tiers have changed historically; treat specific price claims as time‑sensitive and verify against the vendor before repeating. These items are flagged as unverified until corroborated.
Actionable guidance for Windows users and IT pros
If you manage machines or shop for new devices in the coming months, here are practical steps based on the year’s work:- For gamers and creatives evaluating Arm devices:
- Test the exact titles and workflows you need on actual hardware. Emulation improvements make many titles possible, but performance depends on game, driver, and thermal constraints.
- Prefer devices with explicit OEM support and validated drivers for gaming (e.g., Snapdragon X‑series systems with vendor‑backed Adreno updates).
- For enterprise IT considering Copilot+ benefits:
- Evaluate Copilot+ features in pilot groups first — security and privacy controls (Recall opt‑in, local encryption via Windows Hello ESS) are promising, but entitlements and feature flags complicate fleet parity.
- Confirm driver and Studio Effects support with OEMs before deploying external webcam workflows at scale. External camera Studio Effects are hardware‑gated and driver‑dependent.
- For everyday users:
- If you dislike preinstalled AI on smart TVs, monitor firmware updates and vendor support statements; some vendors may add uninstall options after backlash. Meanwhile, treat forced system apps as a privacy and UX risk.
Looking ahead: what to watch in 2026
- The next Windows feature wave (26H1 and beyond) will test whether Microsoft can simplify the product landscape (Copilot vs Copilot+, AI PC labels) and make agentic features genuinely reliable and useful rather than just aspirational. The industry must move from “agent marketing” to robust, testable agent functionality.
- Expect continued Arm progress: native anti‑cheat adoption, broader ARM64 builds from publishers, and potentially silicon changes that reduce emulation overhead. These are the things that will decide whether Arm becomes a first‑class gaming platform or remains a competent alternative with trade‑offs.
- Platform trust and consent will be central. The LG smart‑TV Copilot episode shows how distribution choices can trigger regulatory attention and consumer resistance; companies must design both technical and product governance to respect choice.
Conclusion
Windows Weekly’s “I’ve Got An Apple Guy” episode captured an important truth: 2025’s progress in Windows was less about flashy one‑off features and more about the patient plumbing and targeted product work that make software reliably useful. Prism’s ISA support, improved driver delivery, and the Xbox Full Screen Experience are the kind of foundation changes that quietly enable new kinds of devices and workflows. At the same time, Copilot’s spread across devices — and the messy way it is sometimes distributed — shows that product execution and consumer trust matter as much as technical capability.The real test for Microsoft in 2026 will not be whether it can ship more features but whether it can make them coherent and controllable: AI that helps without surprising users; device entitlements that don’t fragment experiences; and platform updates that empower choice rather than forcing it. Windows 11 in 2025 moved the needle in many important ways — but how those gains are governed, explained, and democratized will decide whether the progress is durable or merely ephemeral.
Source: Thurrott.com Windows Weekly 963: I’ve Got An Apple Guy
