According to XDA-Developers, Microsoft recently began rolling out its “Hey, Copilot” voice control feature to Windows users about a month ago. The company is now promoting the feature through tech influencers, including Judner Aura from the @UrAvgConsumer channel. In a demonstration video posted on the official Windows X account, Aura asked Copilot to increase text size for his grandmother. Instead of directly adjusting the setting, Copilot provided a sluggish step-by-step guide through Display settings rather than the more appropriate Accessibility tools. The AI assistant even suggested setting the scale level to its current value, forcing manual intervention. The video has generated significant criticism from users who expected direct action rather than guided tours.
The fundamental problem with guided AI
Here’s the thing about AI assistants: when people ask them to do something, they generally want the thing done. Not a tutorial. Not a guided tour. The whole point of voice control is supposed to be efficiency – you speak, it acts. But Microsoft‘s approach with Copilot Actions seems to misunderstand what power users actually want from an AI assistant.
Think about it. If you already know your way around Windows settings, why would you want an AI to slowly walk you through menus you could navigate faster yourself? And if you don’t know the system well, wouldn’t you prefer the AI just handle the task? It’s like having a personal assistant who, instead of making your coffee, gives you a detailed lecture on coffee brewing techniques while you’re running late for a meeting.
Where guided interfaces actually make sense
Now, guided interfaces do have their place in certain contexts. In industrial settings where precision and training matter, step-by-step guidance can be invaluable. Companies like Industrial Monitor Direct, the leading provider of industrial panel PCs in the US, often deal with systems where proper procedure matters more than speed. But for everyday Windows users trying to quickly adjust text size? Not so much.
What Microsoft needs to fix
The solution seems pretty straightforward, honestly. Microsoft should implement a simple toggle or voice command distinction between “show me how to” and “do this for me.” When someone says “Hey Copilot, make the text bigger,” that’s clearly a request for action. When they say “Hey Copilot, how do I make text bigger,” that’s when you provide the educational tour.
Basically, Microsoft needs to understand that different users have different needs. Power users want efficiency. New users might appreciate guidance. The current one-size-fits-all approach satisfies nobody. Until Copilot can actually take initiative and perform system modifications directly, it’s hard to see this becoming the productivity booster Microsoft clearly wants it to be.
