Windows 11’s Copilot integration is somehow getting even messier

It’s been obvious for several years now that Microsoft is entirely all-in on Copilot, its ever-present AI assistant, whether users find it useful or not.

While the AI tool works great for some tasks like asking simple questions and pulling data, Copilot also feels like unwanted bloatware in other situations. For example, why would I want to use Copilot on my Xbox ROG Ally X (no, I don’t want in-game hints)? Now, adding to the feeling that, at least sometimes, Microsoft hasn’t entirely thought out Copilot’s continued integration into Windows 11, File Explorer now features two distinct Copilot icons with different purposes (via: Windows Latest).

The tech giant is testing a new feature called Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot that’s located directly in Windows 11’s Home tab (it also appears when you hover over the Recommended or Recent sections). As you may have already guessed, when you click on this button, it sends the file directly to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app for a summary and other analysis. Then there’s also “Ask Copilot,” which you can access from the familiar right-click menu.

Maybe putting Copilot everywhere isn’t the best idea?

At least make the Microsoft Office 365 version feature a different icon

This results in two different versions of Copilot running at the same time — the regular version of the AI that’s focused on more conversation inquiries about the file in question, and then the Microsoft 365 Copilot iteration, which, as its name suggests, is directly integrated into apps like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint (in theory, the latter option should be able to offer more detail context). Since both versions of Copilot share the same icon, this can get confusing rather quickly.

Of course, both versions of Copilot are still powered by ChatGPT. Microsoft’s idea behind the new Ask Microsoft 365 Copilot is likely that the button doesn’t force you to leave the current context of what you’re working on, though the other version of the app is just a right-click away. For what it’s worth, this new Copilot button hasn’t shown up on my Windows 11 PC yet, and Microsoft 365, CoPilot, and Windows 11 are all running their latest versions (it’s likely the feature is part of an Insider update).

In other Copilot related news, Microsoft is working on a universal AI-powered writing assistant for Copilot+ PCs that allows users to shift the tone of their work to be Concise, Friendly, or Professional, similar to Apple Intelligence’s Writing Tools. Unlike the built-in Microsoft Edge writing assistant, this new Copilot feature will be available across Copilot+ PC’s entire operating system.