Windows Recall.
VS Code forcing Copilot.
Windows forcing Copilot.
Office forcing Copilot.
Azure forcing Copilot.
GitHub forcing Copilot.
Outlook forcing Copilot.
Edge forcing Copilot.
You folks are insane.
The next major Windows 11 update coming in 2026 will have full agentic AI with full control over your (your?) PC. And it will hard require a pretty recent processor with Neural Processor Unit to make it work (so a lot more e-waste is coming).
I fear for the future.
Am I right to understand that as people don't upgrade their hardware, they're safe from that, right? Sounds like a plus to me.
Why would it be any different than the Windows 7 -> Windows 10 debacle? Disabling entire processor families after it boots into installation and wiped the previous windows.
Likewise the Windows 11 (which is just a rebranded Windows 10, just look at the full build number which should start with 10.x) kernel could boot systems from ~2017 onwards. Maybe with some kernel features disabled which most (if not all) Windows 10 users would not miss anyway, but it could still boot without any issues. Those running a Rufus-patched Windows 11 are living proof of this.
This never was a technical issue, or one which could cost them money, but a cold blooded business decision which generated thousands upon thousands of kilos of e-waste.
And for what?
Because no one on the kernel team likes deleting code, specifically because someone will try to install it on their old ass work laptop from a decade ago.
Microsoft choosing not to support that old ass laptop is a company choice. There are costs involved with maintaining the support structure. Whereas Linux is primarily funded by enterprises who use it on servers, which may not be updated hardware wise in a longer period of time.
If Linus Torvalds or Miguel De Icaza introduce copilot, I swear I’m going to go all in on BSD.
They got a storm of criticism after that announcement, but Microsoft seemingly has not given a single fuck about that and has not backtracked on this decision.
(Just like they technically could have allowed Windows 11 to run on older PCs with some disabled features out of the box, but didn't)
They make this beautiful pasture (Windows XP wallpaper) and then lay mines all over the field. Put up signs that say “Free Lemonade” and charge for parking.
(I'm on an older server version, so I do not know)
Unfortunately both of them are back to their old selfs.
However lets not forget that those big corporations, are the same ones that keep the lights on across many FOSS projects that get talked daily on HN.
He touts AI, services, agentic copilot, and all the other stuff customers are railing against.
Some Windows manager got crucified on X recently for an enthusiastic tweet about turning Windows into an agentic OS. People called for this persons firing. But, this was straight out of Nadella’s playbook.
I don't think it's wise for them to want stuff like Recall (data exfiltration) or current state of the art agents doing calculations or analysis for them -- at least without a qualified human closely reviewing it's output and conclusions.
I do see businesses wanting simpler, more reliable software with fluid and consistent interfaces, but MSFT isn't focusing on that.
AI is, currently, more of a culture than a product for businesses. At least, the ones that don't literally make the models. I'm sure a lot of business owners really do want all the AI stuff, and then their employees will just work around it, like they do with all sales or signaling driven decisions.
Even though I don't use it, and have disabled as much Copilot functionality as Microsoft will let me.
I can't wait for this AI bubble to burst.