With the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT, chatbots have become the face of artificial intelligence (AI) in today's world. It seems that talking to an AI chatbot is the only way to interact with AI models and intelligent systems. While I agree that a chatbot offers a schematic, user-friendly interface for most users to interact with an AI model, it cannot be true that all your dreams of interacting with an intelligent system die in the four corners of a text chat box.

In this regard, Microsoft has caught on to the frenzy of integrating AI chatbots into many of its products. Most notably, it has integrated Windows Copilot, an AI chatbot powered by OpenAI's models in Windows 11 with much hype and pomp. Not to miss the fact that Microsoft replaced Cortana with Windows Copilot on Windows 11. And the tech giant has also integrated Windows Copilot into Windows 10, replacing Cortana.

Microsoft certainly believes that AI chatbots will be the future. But is that really the vision of intelligent computing, powered by AI? Or is Microsoft just buying into the AI hype and integrating AI chatbots to show investors it has skin in the game? Regardless of the answer, the current form of AI-powered chatbots has limited application and it feels restrictive to get any meaningful help from the chatbot, especially at the OS level.

Microsoft decided to retire Cortana – a 9-year-old product – in favor of Windows Copilot, but is it a suitable replacement, especially when Windows Copilot is still in preview?