After latest feedback from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in regards to the firm sustaining its AI-centric course in an more and more skeptical trade (and politely asking you to not seek advice from AI content material as ‘slop’), many within the wider computing trade shrugged, snorted in one thing approaching derision, then went again to bemoaning Home windows’ growing deal with AI.
Prospects have lengthy complained about Copilot, with some leaning further into ChatGPT instead, as Microsoft’s AI feels prefer it’s clogging up the core pillars of what a pc ought to provide. It’s no surprise customers are trying to remove it.
So, with Windows needing a shot in the arm, both in terms of performance and public perception, we’re sad to report that Microsoft isn’t off to the best start in either regard in 2026.
Patching previous patches leads to even more Windows problems
Last week, Microsoft released Windows 11 update numbers KB5073455 and KB5074109, intended to resolve a series of issues (114 in total, apparently).
Sadly, as has usually been the case with Microsoft in recent times, the patch truly brought on loads of points, too. It brought on some black display screen points (notably with ever-popular Nvidia GPUs), in addition to a weird Outlook Basic bug that primarily locked up the corporate’s e mail app should you had been utilizing a POP account.
Home windows 11 Enterprise builds reportedly restarted when customers clicked ‘Shut Down’, which in all probability isn’t nice for anybody’s electrical energy payments, and truly required customers to enter a Command Immediate to, you recognize, flip their PC off.
That’s fairly wild for an organization that owns a sizeable piece of the PC pie, and prompted Microsoft to push out extra patches in latest days.
Replace KB5077797 landed on January 17 to repair the bug pushing computer systems to restart, whereas one other emergency patch was launched on Saturday to “restore entry to Azure Digital Desktop and Home windows 365”, according to Extreme Tech.
The rub? That Outlook bug nonetheless isn’t mounted, and in case your work PC can’t get emails proper now, you’ll undoubtedly be cursing Nadella’s latest feedback that we propose we have to embrace AI.
Has Microsoft lost its way entirely?
“For this not to be a bubble by definition, it requires that the benefits of this are much more evenly spread,” Nadella said on Tuesday (thanks, Irish Times).
“I’m way more assured that this can be a expertise that can, in actual fact, construct on the rails of cloud and cell, diffuse sooner, bend the productiveness curve, and convey native surplus and financial development all around the globe,” he added.
‘Bending the productiveness curve’ in all probability isn’t what these with out a working e mail app had been enthusiastic about, Mr Nadella.
Nonetheless, this tone deafness has been constructing and never simply in Microsoft’s computing division.
Final yr, the corporate laid off greater than 9,000 staff, many in itsXbox division. Microsoft’s gaming model was decimated, with studios shut “to place the corporate and groups for achievement in a dynamic market” (through Eurogamer).
In a memo to workers in June final yr, Xbox boss Phil Spencer mentioned, “I acknowledge that these adjustments come at a time when now we have extra gamers, video games, and gaming hours than ever earlier than. Our platform, {hardware}, and sport roadmap have by no means regarded stronger. The success we’re seeing presently relies on robust choices we have made beforehand.”
As if the corporate’s successes being paraded in entrance of the workers being let go wasn’t sufficient, one govt producer at Xbox Sport Studios Publishing mentioned, “I do know a majority of these instruments engender robust emotions in folks, however I would be remiss in not making an attempt to supply the very best recommendation I can beneath the circumstances. I have been experimenting with methods to make use of LLM AI instruments (like ChatGPT or Copilot) to assist cut back the emotional and cognitive load that comes with job loss.”
Fortunately, that put up was deleted, however given Microsoft’s continued funding in AI at the price of not simply its humanity however now its most defining product, Home windows, it actually does really feel just like the worm is popping, and public notion couldn’t be decrease.
Not the first, not the last
Perhaps the worrying thing about the current rollout of Windows patches and then subsequent band-aids is that it’s not really anything new.
Last year, there were plenty of updates that simply ‘broke’ elements of the OS or day-to-day use of Windows. Digital-to-Analog Converters were essentially rendered inactive in January, and that bug hit Windows 10, too.
Another update gaffe left users unable to use their webcams, while another stopped Premiere Pro editors from doing any kind of movement of clips in the timeline. If you worked in anything to do with media creation, there were some rough months for you.
Then there was the return of the vanishing cursor, disconnections from Distant Desktop periods, and blue screen of death appearances.
Nonetheless, at the very least we are able to agree that replace KB5053602 eradicating Copilot was one thing we may get behind.
As a author within the discipline of shopper expertise, I all the time wish to preserve my PC up to date as greatest I can, however whilst new options arrive, I’m discovering myself drawn to utilizing one of many best MacBooks extra usually than my Home windows machines. If I had to decide on one to get work performed, I’m leaning Mac, and I do know loads of of us anecdotally who’re pivoting to Linux for its Home windows-like simplicity, however shorn off all AI ‘fluff’.
The place do you stand on Home windows? Are you locked in due to its gaming prowess or your personal historical past with the platform? Or are you contemplating breaking away to someplace much less laser-focused on AI performance and extra on the broader platform options? Tell us within the feedback beneath and also you would possibly simply wish to maintain off on the subject of putting in the subsequent Home windows replace as a result of who is aware of what that one will break.
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