2025 was a disaster for Windows 11 as bugs and intrusive features erode trust (www.windowscentral.com)

Windows 11 has faced significant criticism in 2025, with users frustrated by a flood of new AI features that have led to stability issues and a perceived decline in quality. Despite the end of support for Windows 10, Microsoft opted to prioritize an aggressive rollout of AI capabilities, including the intrusive Copilot integration across various applications. This frenetic pace has resulted in a constant stream of updates that introduce bugs rather than improvements, leading to a loss of user trust reminiscent of the Windows 8 era. Moreover, Microsoft's "Continuous Innovation" strategy has made it increasingly difficult for users to predict or understand the features available on their devices, with many experiencing inconsistent access to new functionalities due to its Controlled Feature Rollout system. The implications of these changes for the AI/ML community are significant. Microsoft’s push toward an agentic OS aims to enable automated workflows through new APIs, yet concerns linger regarding security and privacy, especially given the reliance on cloud services for many AI features. This approach has led to backlash from users who feel that AI should augment the OS experience rather than dominate it. Meanwhile, competitors like Google and Valve are poised to capitalize on Windows' missteps, offering alternatives that may appeal to users frustrated by Windows 11's complexity and performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware.