Employees and Users Slammed Microsoft's Copilot AI Update

Several employees and users have gone on the offensive over Microsoft’s Copilot AI rollout led by Mustafa Suleyman, and have said they prefer the previous version.

Microsoft recently released an updated version of its Copilot AI tool, led by new A.I. head Mustafa Suleyman. Originally intended as a friendly helper, there is now dissatisfaction from within Microsoft and its users with the changes. Suleyman, who came from DeepMind, envisioned Copilot as a supportive assistant, but it has taken a different direction.

A wave of discontent surfaced on Blind, an anonymous platform for workplace problems among Microsoft employees. Some criticized an app update, calling it "ruined" and "dumbed down." Complaints in the Microsoft App Store led to a drop in the rating of the Copilot app. Users were unhappy with app freezes, slow response, and missing features like real-time sports updates and local suggestions.

To this, Divya Kumar, Microsoft’s general manager of Copilot and AI marketing and strategy, elaborated that the objective of the updated application is to allow for a more interactive experience while presenting the app, and new voice features are aimed at making the interface “lighter, easier”. She reassured users that she must discuss Copilot more and more as it develops with feedback provided.

Even with all these excuses, however some employees remarked she was more useless than ever, at least the new consumer version of the Copilot comparing to performance of the corporate one offered inside of the Microsoft’s M365 suite is perplexing, raising the question what is it for and who is it intended for.