Is Copilot a serious productivity tool, or just a party trick? Microsoft’s heavy promotion of its AI is facing criticism because its terms of use say Copilot is for “entertainment purposes only.”
Last fall, the company quietly updated the Copilot Terms of Use to note that “Copilot is for entertainment purposes only. It can make mistakes, and it may not work as intended. Don’t rely on Copilot for important advice. Use Copilot at your own risk.”
The agreement adds: “We do not make any warranty or representation of any kind about Copilot. For example, we can’t promise that any Copilot’s Responses won’t infringe someone else’s rights (like their copyrights, trademarks, or rights of privacy) or defame them. You are solely responsible if you choose to publish or share Copilot’s Responses publicly or with any other person.”
(Credit: Microsoft)
In recent days, the agreement has made the rounds on social media, where it’s facing plenty of criticism since it seems to clash with Microsoft’s marketing, which positions Copilot as a powerful and useful tool for users and businesses.
“It’s not a good sign when a company won’t stand behind the accuracy of their product. If Microsoft doesn’t trust copilot, why should I?” questioned one Reddit user.
Previous versions of the terms, dating back to 2023, were more vague and said: “The Online Services are for entertainment purposes.”
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Another user also noticed that the “entertainment purposes only” phrasing seems to match disclaimers posted on TV programs featuring ghosts or psychics to prevent lawsuits. Indeed, you can find online psychic services that mention the same, noting “readings should be viewed as being for entertainment purposes only and in no way replaces proper legal, financial or medical advice.” Microsoft has already been caught in AI-related lawsuits over ChatGPT data scraping after investing billions in OpenAI.
Microsoft didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. But it’s clear Redmond has faced pushback over its focus on AI, with some critics calling the company “Microslop,” a reference to AI slop. Perhaps in response, a Microsoft executive downplayed the company’s AI focus last month while talking up major improvements to future Windows 11 updates.
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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
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