- Microsoft has added new docking options to Copilot on Windows, returning to the original sidebar layout
- This comes amid promises that Microsoft would reduce the visibility of AI and bloatware to improve Windows.
- The new Copilot docking options are still in a rollout phase for Windows users.
Windows 11 users have taken Microsoft to task for its overuse of AI and bloatware, which it promised to reduce as part of the Windows K2 project, but a new move suggests the company might not be as committed to removing AI features as some expected.
As reported by Windows Latest, Copilot has returned to its original sidebar layout, forcing you to leave apps aside when docking the AI assistant. Basically, this works almost exactly like Windows 11’s Snap Layouts, allowing users to have apps side by side, but with Copilot’s new docking options on the left or right side of the desktop.
Apps also automatically resize to make room for the Copilot window, effectively prioritizing the AI assistant.
Copilot has undergone several design changes, originally functioning as a sidebar (very similar to the current design), then as a standalone application, but now functioning as an Edge-based container that uses more RAM, according to Windows Latest.
Fortunately, this new version of Copilot is still in its rollout phase for Windows users, so the ‘quick view’ option that acts as a floating window will be the main way to use the AI assistant for now.
These docking options are also arguably better than just quick view, giving users more options to customize Copilot’s location. However, the return to an old design seems counterintuitive to Microsoft’s attempt to reduce the visibility of AI and bloat the operating system.
Copilot isn’t exactly easy to remove either: while the Copilot app can be uninstalled, it’s still built into Windows at a broader level and requires complete removal by blocking it in Group Policy or editing the Windows Registry.
Not all PC users are tech-savvy, and instead of making it easy for them to completely remove Copilot, Microsoft is adding more features. Hopefully these docking options won’t do any good in the long run, but it’s hard to trust Microsoft to push for AI reduction in Windows.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds.
