As you’d most likely be aware, users have complained bitterly about Microsoft’s insistence on permeating every nook and cranny in Windows 11 with Copilot (AI), and the backlash caused Microsoft to announce it would be pulling back on its Copilot (AI) integration.
Both my colleague Marc Thomas and I have expressed doubts over Microsoft’s promised pullback. I’ve previously stated that the company has invested far too much in AI development to be pulling back now, and it’s more likely Microsoft will still go ahead with its plans for full Copilot integration but will do so far more surreptitiously.
Well, folks, yours truly has hit the nail on the head once again.
Microsoft Removes Copilot From Notepad & Snipping Tool
In the latest Windows 11 Insider build, Microsoft has announced that it has removed the Copilot element from both Notepad and Snipping Tool… but has it?
In Notepad’s case, the Copilot icon has been removed from the settings options, and that setting has been renamed from “Copilot” to “Writing tools”. However, the feature remains wholly Copilot-driven, so Copilot has not been removed at all, merely renamed.
On the other hand, Copilot does appear to have been completely removed from Snipping Tool, so that is at least a step in the right direction.
- You also might like: How To Restore The Old Notepad (Windows 11)
BOTTOM LINE:
Simply renaming the Copilot element in Notepad to give the impression that it has been removed tends to lend credence to my theory that Microsoft will continue surreptitiously integrating Copilot into Windows 11.
By the way, some tech sites are reporting that Microsoft has indeed removed Copilot from Notepad in Windows 11, but don’t be fooled; it is merely a renaming.
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