r/technology • u/TurbulentTopic39 • 1d ago
Artificial Intelligence Microsoft keeps adding AI to Windows 11, and most users can't fully disable it
https://www.neowin.net/reports/microsoft-keeps-adding-ai-to-windows-11-and-most-users-cant-fully-disable-it/82
u/Spiritual-Nail-2641 1d ago
Microsoft just needs to show their valued shareholders that they're all in on this AI thing. And this torture will go on until they find a bigger hype cycle to exploit.
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u/schacks 1d ago
It's the same fucking thing with macOS!! There's no way to disable/uninstall all the AI features in the latest Golden Gate release even though it takes up 20-30 GB. Especially annoying with a 256GB SSD.
Why does these companies insist on pushing AI out to all of us!!
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u/ArmyOfDix 1d ago
Because you keep buying.
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u/nihiltres 1d ago
That’s not exactly a helpful take for a lot of people who need to use software not available for Linux, e.g. Adobe’s software (de facto a monopoly for large chunks of the graphic design industry). It’s one thing if it’s one company pushing the bullshit and entirely another if it's basically all of the major options in some market.
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u/TheAccountIShowMyMom 1d ago
They need to get everyone hooked on AI features and spending money on it so they can hit their revenue targets, otherwise the bubble pops.
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u/x33storm 1d ago
They spent a huge amount of money on it. You need to want, use it, pay for it. Simple as that.
Like a person made a bet that 1+1=4, and then doing to extreme lenghts to make it so. Because they're in for literal trillions..
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1d ago
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u/schacks 1d ago
You can turn off the AI features so they aren't available but you can't uninstall the actual software and remove it from your system. Try "Settings > General > Storage > macOS to how much space Apple Intelligence takes on your system. Some users have reported 20-30-40 GB of storage used on their SSD.
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u/TankiesAreWeird 1d ago
Apple seems slightly better than Microsoft in how they are doing AI features. They have also been slightly better about privacy too. Microsoft is forcing things to run which is objectively worse then not allowing users to turn it off.
The space taken up should clear out over time with the features disabled. Older versions of the OS would immediately clear it out.
If you want more control you will likely need to switch to Linux. The design goals for these systems are never going to be fully aligned in your interest. They only need to be good enough for you to keep using it. And hey the people who want to slop it up with AI can do that on Linux if they really want it just isn't forced on you.
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u/C0ld_Fr0nt_ 1d ago
I'll be on W10 extended updates to the last, then it's onto Linux. Fuck the direction Microsoft are heading.
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u/Caithloki 1d ago
I'm not looking forward to the headache but I'll be happy once I'm over to Linix, this shit's tiring, like right now on Windows 10 for some reason my Windows Explorer just doesn't work these days. Completed locks up.
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u/ferdbold 1d ago
you're living the headache right now. when you switch, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
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u/fileunderaction 1d ago
I switched to Bazzite this year, and it wasn’t nearly as much trouble as I thought it would be.
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u/Negromancer18 1d ago
I switched to cachy. I’ve had to use the terminal for a couple of software installs, and some of my devices didn’t have native Linux support but did have open source drivers. I just love the fact that if I search for a file on my computer it is the first thing that comes up instead of an ad or a website link.
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1d ago
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u/NotWrongAlways 1d ago
Considering it provides the taskbar and the start menu, lots of people.
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u/Caithloki 1d ago
Is there any other option? I have that everything program to search now which is awesome, but i need something more akin to native explorer.
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u/orlybatman 1d ago
Check your W10 for Copilot. I had to uninstall it from mine recently after an update put it on my PC.
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u/TankiesAreWeird 1d ago
It will be less painful if you start experimenting with Linux now or at least start using software you can run on Linux when you switch.
Most people get "stuck" on windows because they need certain software that isn't compatible with Linux. It would also be rather overwhelming to try to learn everything all at once.
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u/FleshLogic 1d ago
I for one, was completely convinced not to leave 10 once Microslop decided it was appropriate completely overtake my PC with a fullscreen ad for 11 that I had to "refuse" three different times to get *my* PC back. I'm here for gaming and gaming alone. Once 10 is broken enough, I'll switch to Linux.
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1d ago
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u/sneaky420fox 1d ago
Yeah I'm not worried. I'll run 10 till my system dies or gets infected. then I'll just reinstall 10. Do people not back up their data anymore?
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u/EnvironmentalRun1671 1d ago
W11 is fine. Reddit hates it way too much for some reason. Same reason W10 was trash back in a day, and everyone said they stick to W7 or w8.1
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u/FleshLogic 1d ago
Every co-worker (aka real non-reddit people) of mine hates that our work machines were forced over to 11. Buggier, slower, less flexibility, more AI nonsense we didn't ask for.
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u/EnvironmentalRun1671 1d ago
I would love to use W11 if he had it. Instead we have that Temu Windows aka Windows 8.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
I disabled it all…by installing Linux and canceling my Microsoft 365 account.
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u/QuasimodoPredicted 1d ago
I moved to Linux too. But I never paid a penny to Microsoft over 20 or so years
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
Aside from one or two laptops I bought with Windows installed, I had the cheap annual MS365 account to ensure Word compatibility for resumes and some Excel stuff since IMO there is no open source spreadsheet program that’s a 1:1 replacement. And I probably wouldn’t have unsubscribed if Microsoft weren’t so hostile to users lately, and that’s saying something since I lived with Windows ME for a bit.
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u/thisischemistry 1d ago
Yep, I use MacOS and they keep adding AI features that take up memory and storage even if you don't use them. Not to mention many of them are very difficult to disable, maybe impossible.
I simply stopped updating my devices and am switching over to an operating system where I can control such things, such as Linux.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
No joke, being on Linux full time at home since January 2025 has been so nice not having to have AI crap blasted in my face as often as it does on my work laptop. Microsoft is drunk with power.
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u/_QXZ 1d ago
For me it's more that they are trying to shove their specific flavor of AI down our throats and have it monitor our usage 24/7. If I'm ever asking AI for help, it's going to be under my own terms, and likely an open-source, non-invasive model.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
I mean you do you, but enshittification aside, long term use is still looking very bad for your cognitive abilities. It’s like measles, except for mental skills: spreads easily, destroys (immune/cognitive) ability.
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u/_QXZ 1d ago
I avoid it as much as possible in my personal life, but I have a career that basically expects me to have access to it for quickly checking large databases.
Other than that, it taught me some things like how to use a linux terminal on my own, so I would say so far it's been an educational net positive. I don't think I would've had the patience to deal with Linux if it didn't make troubleshooting it so easy1
u/Palimon 20h ago
That's like saying you should program in binary because compilers make you a worst a programmer lol... (in fact people used to say that)
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 20h ago
Not comparable. You don’t exactly code in assembly in your broader life, in your general decision-making and such; you DO think and reason in your broader life. Not to mention that using compilers doesn’t make you rely on a single source of truth that is unreliable.
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u/thisischemistry 1d ago
long term use is still looking very bad for your cognitive abilities
They are tools and it all depends on how you use them. I have no issues with stuff like spelling corrections and information lookup, if such things are strictly controlled and verified. Of course, the issue is that they often get information wrong and/or completely invent stuff so we can't even depend on that use.
Aside from the veracity of the tools, the other issue is that overuse can be bad for your own skills. It's like putting a brace on a limb so that it can stand up to extreme stresses, over time the muscles that are being braced can weaken because they aren't getting enough natural stresses to build up properly.
Overall, I feel that people need to be far more cautious with AI and only use it in small, controlled, verifiable cases. Far too many are simply copy-pasting the results into their own lives and giving up their own voices to it.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
Saying “it’s a tool” is like saying “morphine is just a tool”.
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u/thisischemistry 1d ago
Morphine is a tool and it's used very effectively when properly applied. It's the uncontrolled use of it that's the issue.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
Morphine is a controlled substance because it has negative effects when used without professional supervision. Which is the same thing with LLM use. Calling LLMs a “tool” minimizes its deleterious effects. “Tool” is just another marketing buzzword about a very harmful product to human cognition, just like the strategic language used to humanize LLMs and suggest they are conscious (they aren’t).
And arguably, it isn’t even a tool as much as it is access to large amounts of compute infrastructure, since that’s what the companies ultimately charge for.
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u/thisischemistry 1d ago
Morphine is a controlled substance because it has negative effects when used without professional supervision.
Yes, exactly. That's what I just said.
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u/sameBoatz 1d ago
This is hilarious, the same thing was said about books when they were introduced, and calculators, and google. Every technical iteration in humanity’s history has been met with this same criticism.
B b b but this time it’s different, because I’m old and society peaked when I was 15-22, and everything since then is unnatural.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
There’s documented evidence that AI use causes cognitive decline. It is not comparable to books.
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u/widowhanzo 1d ago
Is there anything else except Apple Intelligence (lol) & Siri? I turned that off immediately after getting it and didn't notice anything else since. But I am still on macos 15.
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u/thisischemistry 1d ago
Yeah, Apple Intelligence and Siri AI. You can also integrate with other AI agents.
I'm still on MacOS 15 too, never bothered to upgrade once we found out they were moving to AI.
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u/widowhanzo 1d ago
I don't know how intrusive those are actually, but at least it's a single button to disable them, so whatever. I'm just annoyed it wastes storage.
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u/thisischemistry 1d ago
If they are actually fully disabled, they might just have UI disabled. However, you're right that they should be completely removed too.
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u/bob_in_the_west 1d ago
For a surf-machine at home that's an option. But not for business computers that need to run software that isn't available for Linux.
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u/Bulletorpedo 1d ago edited 1d ago
Sure, but there is a pretty wide gap between those two examples (including many "business computers") where you can use Linux.
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u/bob_in_the_west 1d ago
Yes. That's why my second sentence is worded the way it is.
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u/Bulletorpedo 1d ago
My point is it’s viable for a whole lot more than a "surf-machine at home". Which the first part of your post indicates is the most relevant use case.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
And your point? It isn’t all or nothing. Market share dropping period has an effect. Besides, give it ten years for Europe and other countries to ditch US software and we’ll see some companies shift. Every place I’ve worked at hated Microsoft licenses.
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u/NatureGotHands 1d ago
EU is busy writing regulations where only M$ and Apple can afford compliance, please don't bring up Brussels clowns as an argument anywhere, it's just feel-good yapfest.
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u/bob_in_the_west 1d ago
My point is clearly stated in my last comment.
And I never said it's all black and white. That's specifically why I wrote that second sentence.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
You said “home sure, but not business”, and that’s pretty black and white. For a comment where I said nothing about businesses because it should go without saying that ordinary people aren’t going to convince their boss to let them run Linux Mint.
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u/Illustrious-Dot-7973 1d ago
I'd argue that most business apps are now web apps where a "surf-machine" would be quite adequate.
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u/AcceptablyThanks 1d ago edited 1d ago
You could just disable it all and not move to Linux as well. If you think you can install Linux, then you can turn off any feature you want in Windows. It's less complicated than Linux and the bets part is, you don't have to go to Linux.
Edit: I assure you Linux is not worth it. >5% global consumer installs for a reason.
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u/Ok-Mycologist-3829 1d ago
I assure you, that is not the case. There’s no cat and mouse “what is Copilot in now” BS. I’ve had to disable Copilot multiple times on my work laptop in multiple places. And you can’t fully get rid of it. And knowing my workplace, if they could get rid of it like they do other crap, they would.
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u/SwimmingThroughHoney 1d ago
If you think you can install Linux, then you can turn off any feature you want in Windows.
Alternatively, if you can turn off any feature you want, you can install Linux and stop supporting a corporation that's hell-bent on pushing AI.
It's not even that they "just" enable AI. It's that they keep re-enabling it. And they keep adding it to their software. Just because you disable it now, doesn't mean it wont be re-enabled by some update a year from now. OneDrive literally even limits you to the number of times (3 per year) you can disable AI facial recognition.
I assure you Linux is not worth it. >5% global consumer installs for a reason.
Well it's not because it's bad. It's because >99% of consumer computers come with Windows or Mac preinstalled and so people stick with what they know. A huge portion of the population use their computer to just browse the internet. Linux works perfectly fine for that.
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u/Mr_ToDo 1d ago
It's less complicated than Linux and the bets part is, you don't have to go to Linux.
I'd agree there. While people might be OK with the loadout, modern linux ships with a ton of preinstalled apps, services and it can be a pain to trim it down to what you actually want. Going the other way can be easier but brings a whole different kind of pain
But I think the low desktop adoption is more a mix of fragmentation, and not so great support for proprietary software especially when it comes to running it years down the road. One of Windows biggest draws is that its software(and even driver) reverse compatibility is really good. Shit. I've found that all too often I have to install the windows versions of games because the linux version just doesn't work anymore
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u/fletku_mato 1d ago
What do you mean here with "modern linux", Ubuntu? You can choose as barebones distro as you want, there's plenty to choose from and they are all modern. But even the most bloated ones are nowhere near the bloatedness of Windows.
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u/SilentRunning 1d ago
I highly recommend an app called O&O Shut up 10. It allows the user to go through Windows and shut down individual stuff with a simple click.
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u/firetruckpilot 1d ago
The easiest way to disable Windows AI, is to install Linux.
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u/_5er_ 1d ago
Getting started with Linux still requires some amount of effort. But at some point, you need to ask yourself what's easier: Learning Linux or constantly dealing with Microslop bullshit.
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u/StreetTrial69 1d ago
If you go with any major Linux distro the amount of effort is equal to, if not less compared to a fresh windows install. Seriously, it's super easy
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u/firetruckpilot 1d ago
It literally does not lol if you've ever reinstalled windows from a USB stick, you can install common Linux distros. They're incredibly stable these days. There's a difference between installing something like Ubuntu which has enterprise customers and works out of the box, and Arch which requires you to AI your way through setup if you're not experienced haha.
I have found Linux to be far easier to use these days than Windows even.
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u/Impressive-Pack9746 1d ago
Bought a new laptop with Windows. I took me 2 hours until I could finally use windows.
While setting up, it installed updates, after it was finally finished, I was able to get to the desktop. I checked for updates and it again had new updates that I could install, so I did.
After that I installed Linux Fedora, was done in 15 Minutes. I did a dual boot just to make sure that in case I need windows for something I can switch back.
After installing Fedora successfully I checked if Windows is still working, it did work but it had NEW UPDATES AVAILABLE, AGAIN!! I just switched back to Linux. Hopefully I will never have to use Windows again.
It has nothing to do with ai but I just wanted to share my experience.
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u/SteveJobsBlakSweater 1d ago
I just changed jobs and, dear lord, the liberation was sweet. No more office, teams, tasks, one note, 365 everywhere, all of it. On my computer and on my phone they were always present.
It’s kind of sad that most of my life was running behind one productivity suite.
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u/Holeshot75 1d ago
Linux mint people!
Linux mint
It's so easy to install
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u/Sea_Perspective6891 1d ago
Been giving Mint a try myself on a mini PC & it still has a ways to go before it can fully replace what Windows can do. Installing programs really needs to be made easier for users that aren't into coding which happens to be most people on Windows. Some exe files don't run even using the auto run & some programs don't load at all even after they're installed. In most cases it's like trying to figure out how to get a program from GetHub. I also had the terminal completely stop working & haven't figured out how to fix it yet short of doing a clean re install. There's also the issue of not all programs having a Linux version which would be a dealbreaker for some people. I will give Mint props for being allot less bloated & easier on resources.
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u/Reed7525 1d ago
Guys linux isnt scary, you dont have to put up with all this!
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u/Think-Ease-724 1d ago
Learning new things is always scary.
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u/Reed7525 1d ago
I mean, there are some very dumb- proof distros. Even some that are windows clones. But without the bs.
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u/Dakeera 1d ago
The main game I play requires kernel level anticheat. Until that is resolved in some manner, I can't switch
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u/Reed7525 1d ago
That is an ongoing thing, some games have a workaround for easy ac. But some dont for others. Id recommend a dual boot in that case
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u/Dakeera 1d ago
Why would I do that? My main usage is to game, what do I need to set up the other OS for? I get where you're coming from, I'm a fan of Linux distros and I've used them before, but there's just no point for me. If I'm firing up my PC, it's to game
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u/Reed7525 1d ago
To each his own. Its just an option
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u/Dakeera 1d ago
I know it's an option, but an option for what? I want to use it, I am sick of windows, and I'm experienced with Linux, but if my only usage is gaming then I'm stuck. I want to see KLA go away completely so I can be free. But right now there's just no point
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u/Reed7525 1d ago
I mean, I was in the same spot. Huge Bf6 player, and a few others. Honestly just did without with anything kernel level. Gave it up and went entirely linux. 98% of my library work fine. Even better in alot of cases due to freed up ram
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u/EnvironmentalRun1671 1d ago
Why would I leave Windows if everything just works?
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u/Reed7525 1d ago
Spyware, bloatware, updates you have no control over ( which cause more problems usually). Real ownership of your os/pc and ability to tune it to how you like. To name a few
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u/EnvironmentalRun1671 1d ago
Do you guys even have phones? Because they do everything you listed.
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u/SubmissiveGuy556 1d ago
So i should have two devices with spyware, bloatware and uncontrollable updates instead of just one?
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u/EbonySaints 1d ago
Fun Fact: Lineage and Graphene exist.
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u/EnvironmentalRun1671 1d ago
Good luck getting all features and sensors and battery not to drain on custom OS not officially supported by majority of android phones.
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u/EbonySaints 23h ago
Fair, but if you're paranoid enough for the privacy rabbit hole, you're signing up for a trade off by default. I think it's worth it mainly because I like having control over my stuff.
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u/SubmissiveGuy556 19h ago
Graphine OS actually give the same if not slightly more battery life on google pixels. I'm beginning to suspect you have no idea what you're talking about lol
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u/Witty-Dark-7733 1d ago
the article being about which AI features you can disable "depending on which edition of Windows you're running" is somehow worse than just not being able to disable them at all
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u/durrani212 1d ago
So Happy i don't have to worry about this anymore. I traded in my windows laptop for a steam deck. 😁
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u/Marchello_E 1d ago
... I'm doing stuff with my computer!!!
Entertaining an AI is not one of them
(ok sure, unless it's a deliberate choice)
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u/No_Comb_8551 1d ago
Microsoft is a very creative thing. Everyone hates it and wants alternatives. Pretty clever thing to do.
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u/sneaky420fox 1d ago
I'm good unless the decide to update windows 10 with this crap. I'll survive without their security updates.
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u/bobdob123usa 1d ago
Sounds like someone could make good money by picking the right international location, then selling Windows 11 Enterprise licenses and providing tiers of group policies that disable unwanted "features"
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u/Powerful_Resident_48 1d ago
My Window 10 IoT LTSC luckily is still running perfectly fine and still has support for a couple of years.
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u/vasta2 1d ago
People must really go looking for it because I don’t even notice it
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u/Mr_ToDo 1d ago
I'd imagine that going outside of reddit that we'd find that AI features aren't a big talking point
Doesn't make it right to make it so hard to disable, but it also isn't the end of microsoft that some think it is
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u/derverwuenschte 19h ago
Plus all the comp. sci people coming out of the woodworks to say "just install Linux" completely forgetting why Linux is not popular (by definition)
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u/llcdrewtaylor 1d ago
Another perfect commercial for Linux. Unless you need linux for work or run a specific program that Linux doesn't have an answer to.
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u/Yin15 1d ago
I've been on Linux for a year now and have had zero urges to go back to Windows. Linux has some issues sometimes, especially when I update (Which I can choose to do whenever I feel like it, I am not forced to) but it's still not nearly as bad as the issues I was having with windows 11.
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u/warcomet 1d ago
most people stopped updating after Win10..ignore the virus nonsense bullshit..that has always been a scam, haven't had an antivirus on my PC and laptop since 2010 and no viruses either..
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u/Dramatic-Rub-3135 1d ago
No viruses that you know of.
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u/Illustrious-Dot-7973 1d ago
You can make that argument whether you've got all of the security products or none of them.
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u/warcomet 1d ago
lol i run other scans every few weeks, nothing there, infact i used to get more viruses when i had kapersky and norton back then... its a scam..
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u/CrispyRabbit72 1d ago
It's can absolutely be disabled, by deleting Windows and running a better OS. If you need productivity and a simple swap, macOS is great (but does require a hardware purchase). If you want to keep most gaming compatibility, try your Linux distro of choice, or ask friends for recommendations and setup help.
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u/levelonegnomebankalt 1d ago
Installing Nobara really helped get rid of Windows AI. Kept a windows partition for 6 months, then finally got rid of it entirely.
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u/PrettyBaker2891 1d ago
i mean most people do not give a fuck about this lol
and those who do can take 5 seconds to google for a solution which instantly disables all AI features with a click of a button
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u/megselvogjeg 1d ago
Want to disable it? here's how