Windows 10: Microsoft Starts Dialing Back Windows 11 AI Features After User Backlash

Microsoft’s aggressive push to embed AI throughout Windows 11 may finally be hitting the brakes. Following sustained backlash from power users and the wider Windows community, the company is now reconsidering how — and where — artificial intelligence should appear inside the operating system.

According to an exclusive report from Windows Central, internal teams at Microsoft are actively reviewing several high-profile AI features, including Copilot placements and the troubled Windows Recall experience.

Copilot overload meets user resistance


The turning point arguably began with Windows Recall. Introduced as a flagship AI feature in 2024, Recall was meant to act as a searchable timeline of everything you’ve done on your PC. Instead, it triggered immediate privacy and security concerns, forcing Microsoft to delay the feature by nearly a year.

Since then, Copilot buttons have appeared across core Windows apps such as Notepad, Paint, and File Explorer - often with limited functionality and little explanation. For many users, this felt less like innovation and more like clutter.

That frustration peaked publicly when Windows president Pavan Davuluri described Windows as evolving into an “agentic OS,” sparking thousands of negative responses across social platforms.

Microsoft quietly changes course


Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans say that feedback has landed. The company is now reviewing existing Copilot integrations, particularly in built-in apps, with several outcomes on the table:

• Some Copilot features may be removed entirely
• Others could lose Copilot branding in favor of quieter, contextual tools
• Additional Copilot buttons in system apps are reportedly paused for now

While this pause isn’t expected to be permanent, Microsoft appears to be shifting toward a more deliberate, less intrusive rollout strategy.

Recall may survive - but not as it is


Windows Recall is also under scrutiny. Internally, Microsoft reportedly views its current implementation as a failure. Rather than abandoning the idea outright, the company is exploring ways to rework the concept, potentially even dropping the Recall name altogether.

No final decisions have been confirmed, but the message is clear: Recall, as users know it today, isn’t meeting expectations.

AI stays - just not everywhere


Despite the pullback, Microsoft isn’t abandoning AI on Windows. Behind-the-scenes initiatives like:

• Windows ML
• Windows AI APIs
• Semantic Search
• Agentic Workspace

are continuing as planned. These efforts are largely invisible to users but are meant to give developers better tools and keep Windows competitive with other AI-focused platforms.

The difference now is emphasis. Microsoft appears to be moving away from visible, forced AI surfaces and toward foundational capabilities that actually enhance apps when needed.

A rare moment of listening


For many Windows users, this shift feels overdue. Scaling back Copilot clutter and rethinking Recall suggests Microsoft is finally responding to criticism rather than doubling down on it.

Whether this marks a lasting change or a temporary reset remains to be seen. But for now, Windows 11 looks set to become a little quieter - and perhaps a little more user-focused - in how it handles AI.

The big question is whether Microsoft can rebuild trust while still delivering meaningful AI features. This course correction may be the first real step in that direction.

Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Microsoft Starts Dialing Back Windows 11 AI Features After User Backlash appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

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Microsoft Windows 10 AI Functionality

Hi, My name is Ahmet, and I am an Independent Advisor. I hope you're well, I'm sorry that you are experiencing this issue. I'd be more than happy to assist you.

AI Functions Available in Windows 10

Cortana: Microsoft's personal digital assistant provides the user with task reminders, information search, calendar management and other personal assistance services.

Windows Search: Advanced search features use AI to find files and apps.

Windows Hello: Provides secure log-in using AI with facial recognition, fingerprint scanners and other biometric security features.

Photos App: AI is used to organize, identify and tag photos.

Ink and Pen: Uses AI to make digital ink and pen input more natural.

Windows Defender: Uses AI-based methods to detect and block malware.

Disabling AI Functions

If you want to disable some of the AI functions, you can follow the steps below:

Disable Cortana

Turning off Cortana:

Right-click the Cortana icon on the taskbar.

Scroll down to “Cortana” and select “Off”.

Disable Cortana Settings:

Open “Settings” from the Start menu.

Go to “Privacy” and select the “Speech, ink and text” tab.

Here you can select “Stop speech services and writing suggestions”.

Disable Windows Search AI Features

Disable Call History and Cloud Based Search:

Go to Settings > Privacy > Call history.

You can disable search history using the “Clear search history on this device” and “Manage search history” options.

Advanced Call Settings:

Go to Settings > Search > Search permissions and history.

Turn off “Manage my search history on my device and in the cloud”.

Disabling Windows Hello

Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.

Turn off Windows Hello methods (face recognition, fingerprint).

Disable AI Features in the Photos App

Open the Photos app.

Select “Settings” from the three-dot menu in the top right corner.

Disable options such as “Identify contacts” and “Turn off album suggestions”.

Disable Windows Defender AI Features

Disabling Windows Defender's AI features completely can put your security at risk. However, you can turn off some features:

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Security > Virus and threat protection > Manage settings.

You can turn off options like real-time protection and cloud-based protection.

With these steps you can disable AI functions in Windows 10. However, keep in mind that some features are beneficial for security and user experience.

Let me know how it goes and hopefully it will help.

Have a wonderful day.

Yours sincerely,

Ahmet

 

1st gen NPU users won't get AI features on 24H2?

As we all know that 24h2 update for windows 11 is rolling out gradually for general consumers and as microsoft has already declared that the update will come with some great AI features with mind blowing fancy names. But there is a condition that the user must have a compatible NPU of at least 40 TOPS. So, does that mean consumers with lower npus like those in the 1st gen core ultra processors(with around 11 TOPS NPU) won't be eligible for AI features on 24H2 especially live captions with translations?? If that so the first wave of NPUs in the industry will come of no use! microsoft should definitely figure a way out to make these feature (at least some crucial of them) available to all NPU user.

 

Microsoft announces new Seeing AI features

Source: What's new with Seeing AI Microsoft Accessibility Blog