Earlier this month, Microsoft launched a significant update for its Copilot AI tool, now overseen by Mustafa Suleyman, the company’s new AI head. Suleyman, who joined from DeepMind, aimed to reimagine Copilot as a “companion” that supports and assists users across various tasks. However, the update has sparked disappointment and criticism from both Microsoft employees and general users, who feel the changes represent a decline in functionality.
Reports from Business Insider reveal that many employees expressed their frustrations on Blind, an anonymous workplace discussion platform. Comments such as “Absolutely ruined” and descriptions of the updated Copilot as “dumbed down” reflect widespread discontent. The app’s performance is also evident in its App Store ratings, which dropped significantly following the update; it went from a strong 4.8-star rating to over 250 one-star reviews since October 1, compared to just 20 in September.
Users highlighted several issues, including frequent app freezing, slower response times, and the removal of real-time features like sports scores and local recommendations. Additionally, the ability to delete past conversations has been eliminated, and the image generation feature now only produces one image per request instead of four. One reviewer articulated the confusion, asking, “Why release such an amazing app and then update it to what it is now?”
In response to the backlash, Divya Kumar, Microsoft’s general manager of Copilot and AI marketing, stated that the update aims to transition from a transactional tool to a more conversational AI companion. Kumar explained that the new interface is designed for a “simpler, calmer experience,” incorporating voice features for more natural interactions. She assured users that Microsoft would continue to enhance the app based on user feedback.
However, some employees have noted that the consumer version of Copilot falls short compared to the version integrated into Microsoft’s M365 suite, which is tailored for business productivity. Many employees described the corporate version as “way better,” creating confusion about the different iterations of the Copilot tool.
While Microsoft recognizes that changes to a familiar application can lead to initial challenges, some users are less interested in adopting an “AI companion” model. One review encapsulated this sentiment: “I don’t need an AI friend; I need a tool.”
