“$10 billion investment in OpenAI, and Copilot sucks compared to ChatGPT”: Microsoft staffers and customers lament Copilot’s warm and inviting update — a “step backward” and “absolutely ruined”
Copilot’s recent major overhaul continues to catch strays from users and Microsoft insiders, claiming the new experience is less than impressive.
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What you need to know
Microsoft’s Copilot AIassistant recently receiveda massive update. It shipped with a “warm and inviting” user interface and next-gen AI features, includingCopilot Vision, which can browse the web in Edge, and new experiences that blur AI and human interaction. You’ll needthe $20 monthly Copilot Pro subscriptionto access most of these next-gen AI features.
Interestingly, while the new immersive experience was supposed to drive more growth to the platform,the overhaul has seemingly been received with mixed feelings, with the vast majority citing a degraded user experience, low-quality responses, and more.
And now, a new report byBusiness Insiderreveals that Microsoft staffers share the same sentiments regarding Copilot’s overhaul. According to private messages shared on Microsoft’s message board, the update has “Absolutely ruined” Copilot’s user experience. “The new Copilot is a step backward,” another employee added.
An in-depth analysis by Business Insider further reveals that the sentiments are reflected in Copilot’s public reviews on Apple’s App Store. According to the outlet,Copilot was rated 4.8 out of 5before the new update shipped, based on more than 100,000 ratings.
However, this scorecard has since changed, especially after the massive update shipped, ultimately changing the platform’s user experience. The outlet further notes that the reviews left by users seemingly turned negative, with more than 250 users leaving one-star reviews in October. Another user indicated the update “dumbed down” Copilot, making it less functional.
It’ll be hard to compete against ChatGPT at this rate
A separate report revealed that the top complaint about Copilot in Microsoft’s AI division is thatit doesn’t work as well as ChatGPT. While this issue remains debatable, Microsoft categorically indicated it wasn’t the case, “you’re just not using it as intended.” It also shifted the blame to a lack of proper prompt engineering practices, though it has since launchedCopilot Academyto help resolve this issue and equip users with the appropriate skills to better leverage the tool’s capabilities.
To this end,ChatGPT continues to reign over Copilot on mobilewith the launch of flagship models likeOpenAI’s GPT-4o, leading tothe biggest spike in revenue and downloads.
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The massive Copilot update continues to be an issue for users, with the majority echoing the same message. For instance, a Copilot user recently highlighted their frustrations with the new experience in the r/CopilotPro subreddit on Reddit:
“So I just found out that Copilot for a Microsoft work account (like a student email account ) will show up as the older and preferred version of Copilot. The new version freaking sucks and I hate it. They deleted all my chat history and I had some important school assignments that I already started.”
Another user suggested that Microsoft introduce a toggle that lets users switch between the old and new experience. “$10 billion investment in OpenAI, and Copilot sucks compared to ChatGPT,“Linux Root User on X(formerly Twitter) added. “The new voice feature is barely usable. Also, you should have brought the Cortana voice back.”
To this end, it remains unclear what measures Microsoft is taking to enhance or resolve the issues regarding the new Copilot experience. Windows Central has asked for a comment from Microsoft.
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Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. You’ll also catch him occasionally contributing at iMore about Apple and AI. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.
