Top Microsoft exec's boast about Windows 'evolving into an agentic OS' provokes furious backlash over AI — users fed up with forced AI and cloud features

Agentic OS backlash
(Image credit: Microsoft Ignite)

Microsoft’s President of Windows & Devices, Pavan Davuluri, has taken to social media to share his enthusiasm about the evolution of Windows. The Microsoft exec wanted to share his excitement about how Windows is "evolving into an agentic OS." But we didn’t see anyone celebrating alongside Davuluri. Rather, the comments section was quickly overrun with sharp criticism, reflecting widespread unease about the direction Microsoft seems to be taking Windows.

“Windows is evolving into an agentic OS, connecting devices, cloud, and AI to unlock intelligent productivity and secure work anywhere,” Davuluri wrote on his public profile page. “Join us at #MSIgnite to see how frontier firms are transforming with Windows and what’s next for the platform. We can’t wait to show you!”

Davuluri’s enthusiasm regarding the evolution of Windows faced overwhelmingly negative criticism. If we had to condense the replies into a single, representative, super-reply, it would probably read something like this: ‘No one wants this; we are fed up with AI everything; Windows needs tuning for performance; and Linux is looking good.’

In some ways, we agree with the Windows and PC enthusiast old-guard. The execs that steer Windows might be advised to remember that, first and foremost, it is an operating system and should be honed to facilitate the operations its users wish to complete. Whatever frills it adds — whatever side dishes it offers — the OS definitely should not get in the way of users, and interruptions of computer workflows, entertainment, and gaming fun should be red-flagged as being contrary to the prime directive.

Having said that, some of the negativity from social media commenters went a little off the rails. Davuluri’s highlighted Ignite session seems to be targeted at ‘frontier firms,’ and if they want the Windows features described, laced with artificial intelligence and connected cloud trimmings, it seems fair that Microsoft should address them. As long as these features aren’t foisted on users who want to ignore the OS and focus on their apps, content, and games, we don't think there will be an uprising or a mass exodus in the immediate future.

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Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • erazog
    Personally I feel they should spin it off as a separate product, call it Copilot OS powered by Windows, just don't call it Windows which has an expectation (& legacy) as a keyboard and mouse system. Leave stock Windows be a power user desktop experience which is what it excelled at.

    I get it MS doesn't want to be caught in the past but I don't think the AI revolution is really here and even 30 years from now lots of people will still be using the same key/mouse interface of today.
    Reply
  • Jabberwocky79
    If I were to boil down the resistance (hate) into the simplest form, I'd say the problem is loss of control. So many people are feeling like they are losing autonomy in their daily lives, and AI is one of the prime culprits right now. One big corp after another keeps telling us how awesome it is and bulldozing over the fact that people don't need or want a clanker to do everything for them. It's insulting, not to mention the fact that I've yet to see an AI agent that is competent enough for me to want to trust it with all of my daily choices, including how to run my OS.
    Reply