Microsoft Halts Automatic Installation of AI Copilot Following User Backlash Over 'Microslop'

Microsoft has reversed its plan to auto-install the AI-powered Microsoft 365 Copilot on Windows 11 due to significant user backlash. Initially announced for rollout in September, the plan faced criticism over forced integration of AI technologies. Public sentiment has shifted against AI, influenced by societal impacts such as noise and pollution from data centers, leading to higher energy costs. User pushback, including the term 'Microslop,' played a crucial role in this decision.

Published Mar 23, 2026

Microsoft has canceled its plan to automatically install the Microsoft 365 Copilot on Windows 11 following user backlash. Initially, the company had informed users of an upcoming auto-installation in September, but public criticism regarding forced AI integration led to a reversal.

AI-curated by Theia

The sentiment against AI has grown since Copilot's launch in 2023, driven by community complaints about data centers' noise and pollution, which have raised energy bills nationally. In Q4 2025, community actions halted $98 billion in planned data center developments, reflecting a significant backlash against AI technologies and their societal impacts.