Microsoft employees have expressed significant dissatisfaction with the recent update to the company’s Copilot AI assistant, led by new AI head Mustafa Suleyman.
The update, which was released on October 1, 2024, aimed to transform Copilot into a more conversational AI companion, but has faced criticism for being less functional compared to its previous version.
Employee Discontent and Public Backlash
On Blind, a private message board for verified employees, many Microsoft staff voiced their disappointment, with comments such as “Absolutely ruined” and “A step backward“.
Users and employees have reported issues like app freezing, slow response times, and less informative outputs.
Additionally, the update removed features like real-time information and the ability to delete old conversations. Notably, these were highly valued by users.
AI Head Mustafa Suleyman’s Vision
Mustafa Suleyman, the former DeepMind co-founder, was hired to spearhead Microsoft’s consumer AI efforts.
He envisioned the new Copilot as an “AI companion for everyone” that offers more intuitive design.
It also includes digestible answers, and a more natural interaction experience.
Despite these intentions, the update has not been well-received by the majority of users and employees.
Some employees have compared the new consumer-focused Copilot unfavorably with the version embedded in Microsoft’s M365 suite for corporate users.
They feel that the consumer version has been “dumbed down” and is less functional than its predecessor.
This sentiment is echoed in public reviews on app stores. The app has received over 250 one-star reviews since the update.
Response from Microsoft
Divya Kumar, Microsoft’s general manager of Copilot and AI marketing, responded to the backlash.
She stated that the updated app is meant to shift from a simple transactional tool to a more conversational AI.
She assured users that Microsoft would continue to add features based on feedback.
Divya also emphasized the company’s commitment to creating a simpler, calmer experience with new voice capabilities.
The dissatisfaction among Microsoft employees and users highlights the challenges of implementing significant updates to widely-used tools.
While the vision for a more conversational AI companion is ambitious, the execution has faced criticism for not meeting user expectations.
Microsoft will need to address these concerns to regain user trust and satisfaction.
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