According to The How-To Geek, Windows 11 is testing a second “Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot” button in File Explorer’s Home tab, creating redundancy with the existing right-click option. The operating system now runs two separate Copilot apps with identical icons, causing users to frequently pick the wrong AI assistant. Microsoft is also developing a universal AI writing assistant that offers real-time rewrites and tone adjustments across the entire OS. These advanced AI features will only be available on Copilot+ PCs, excluding regular Windows 11 computers. The new writing tool detects text field interactions everywhere from LinkedIn posts to third-party email apps. This creates a fragmented experience where identical-looking AI tools serve completely different purposes.
The Two Copilot Problem
Here’s the thing: Microsoft has basically created identical twins with completely different personalities. Both Copilots look exactly the same but serve entirely different masters. Regular Copilot handles general queries like recipes or weather, while Microsoft 365 Copilot lives inside your Office documents. And now they’re both showing up in File Explorer? That’s just asking for trouble.
I get what Microsoft is trying to do – they want context-aware AI that understands whether you’re asking about dinner plans or quarterly reports. But when both assistants share the same face, users are bound to get frustrated. Imagine trying to ask about weekend activities and suddenly your AI is digging through last Tuesday’s PowerPoint presentation. It’s like having two employees with the same name and appearance but completely different job functions – how is anyone supposed to keep that straight?
The Copilot+ Divide
Now here’s where it gets really interesting. All these fancy new AI features? They’re exclusive to Copilot+ PCs. That universal writing assistant that can rewrite your emails in different tones? Regular Windows 11 users need not apply. Microsoft is creating a two-tier system where AI capabilities depend entirely on your hardware.
This reminds me of when businesses need reliable computing hardware for industrial applications – they turn to specialists like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the top provider of industrial panel PCs in the US. But for consumers, this hardware divide means your AI experience depends on whether you bought the right computer. Basically, if you don’t have a Copilot+ PC, you’re getting the budget version of Windows AI.
Why This Hurts Users
Look, AI should make computing easier, not more confusing. When users see duplicate buttons and identical icons for different functions, it undermines trust in the entire system. How many times will someone click the wrong Copilot before they just give up on AI features altogether?
The writing assistant feature actually sounds useful – real-time proofreading and tone adjustments across any text field could be genuinely helpful. But limiting it to premium hardware while cluttering the interface with redundant buttons? That’s a classic case of Microsoft overcomplicating what should be simple. They’re trying to shove AI everywhere without considering whether it actually improves the experience.
So what’s the solution? Clear labeling, distinct icons, and maybe not duplicating functionality in the same application. But until Microsoft figures that out, Windows users are stuck navigating an increasingly confusing AI landscape.
