AI enthusiasts are choosing to use ChatGPT over Copilot, all while Microsoft attempts to appeal to a wider audience in a way that I don't think wants Copilot in its current form.
Copilot hasn’t had an easy life. Since its inception as Bing Chat in 2023, the AI tool has taken many twists and turns to get to where it is today. For the most part, Microsoft hasn’t had a clear vision for Copilot, constantly changing strategy, adding and removing features, and redesigning its UI almost half a dozen times in just a couple of years.
When Copilot first launched as Bing Chat, it garnered much attention. For a short while, it was a better version of ChatGPT, based on the same AI models but with access to the Internet for more up-to-date answers and results, which was a game-changer at the time.
Of course, OpenAI and its rivals eventually caught up by offering the same kind of internet access, so Bing Chat no longer had an edge in that department. It’s clear that interest quickly waned from there, and it wasn’t long before Microsoft moved to relaunch Bing Chat under a new name, Copilot.
Copilot has had a bit of an identity crisis over the last couple of years.
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
At first, it was an extensible platform with support for plugins, which allowed Copilot to access third-party apps and services. It was also a competent Windows assistant, capable of configuring system settings like Bluetooth and Dark Mode when asked.
It also supported different conversation styles, letting users choose what kind of response they wanted to receive. This was an excellent feature for those using Copilot as a tool to assist them with code or data management, as many were. It had become a great, free tool for power users and technology enthusiasts.
But as time has progressed, Copilot has lost a lot of this functionality, and I think that’s because Microsoft has chosen to take Copilot down a completely different path. It’s no longer interested in appealing to AI enthusiasts and power users; instead, it wants Copilot to appeal to the masses.
Microsoft knows your Grandma is never going to use ChatGPT, Gemini, or DeepSeek, but it reckons she might use Copilot, if the service is simple and easy enough to use. In the last half a year, we’ve seen Microsoft reposition Copilot as your “AI friend”, not an “AI tool” like so many other AI services are.
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.