Windows Weekly Episode 942: A World of Wonder - The Weakness of Copilot's Branding

Release Date: July 23, 2025

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, Richard Campbell

1. Introduction

In Episode 942 of Windows Weekly, hosts Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell delve into the latest developments surrounding Microsoft, particularly focusing on the recent challenges with Copilot's branding. The discussion also touches on new features in the Windows 11 Week D Update, security vulnerabilities, and alternative tech solutions outside the big tech sphere.

2. Microsoft Drama of the Year: Microsoft Store Retires Movies and TV Services

Paul Thurrott kicks off the conversation by addressing Microsoft's ongoing retreat from the consumer market—a trend that began over two decades ago. The recent decision to discontinue the Movies and TV shows service within the Microsoft Store marks a significant step in this direction.

Paul Thurrott [04:07]: "Many people may not know, but the Microsoft Store used to sell music, movies, TV shows, and ebooks. Now, they're phasing out the Movies and TV service."

Richard Campbell appreciates Microsoft's move, stating it’s better to retire unsupported products than leave them hanging.

Richard Campbell [08:11]: "I appreciate that Microsoft's finally killing off products they don't care about rather than just leaving them hanging."

The hosts discuss the implications for users who have purchased content, emphasizing the importance of migrating to alternative services like Movies Anywhere to retain access to their media.

3. Windows 11 Week D Update: AI Features and Copilot's Branding Issues

The Week D Update introduces several AI-driven features aimed at enhancing user experience. However, Paul Thurrott highlights confusion surrounding the rollout, particularly the differentiation between Copilot Plus PCs running on Snapdragon, AMD, or Intel processors.

Paul Thurrott [25:50]: "These features create a bifurcation where some users get advanced AI capabilities while others are left with limited functionalities."

Key features discussed include:

• Settings Agent: Enables natural language search within settings.

  Richard Campbell [28:30]: "Settings Agent allows you to use natural language to find and adjust settings."

• Click to Do: Enhances text actions with AI capabilities.

  Paul Thurrott [29:43]: "Click to Do is possibly the most useful AI feature in Windows, but it's going to get overloaded."

• Photos App – Photo Relight: Allows users to adjust lighting in photos with virtual light sources.

  Paul Thurrott [29:54]: "You can have up to three virtual light sources to play with post-capture."

• Paint App Enhancements: Introduction of Sticker Generator and Object Select for improved image editing.

  Paul Thurrott [32:20]: "The Object Select feature uses AI to cut out objects from images, which is quite handy."

• Snipping Tool Updates: Perfect Screenshot and Color Picker features for better screenshot management.

  Paul Thurrott [34:00]: "Perfect Screenshot automatically crops screenshots, saving time and effort."

Copilot's Branding Weakness: The inconsistency in feature availability across different processor types leads to user frustration. Paul Thurrott criticizes Microsoft's approach, resulting in a fragmented user experience.

Paul Thurrott [82:46]: "Copilot is never going to be a big deal on iPhones or Android platforms. It's just never going to compete effectively with ChatGPT."

4. Security Concerns: SharePoint Zero-Day Exploit

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing a critical zero-day vulnerability in SharePoint, exploited by Chinese state actors. Richard Campbell explains the severity and potential impact on organizations.

Richard Campbell [116:34]: "This zero-day has been around for a long time, and it’s been used to exfiltrate valuable data from organizations."

The hosts express concern over the speed and effectiveness of Microsoft's response, highlighting the challenges in patching such exploits promptly.

Paul Thurrott [117:26]: "It's a classic case of using an exploit to run arbitrary code that closes the vulnerability. Not ideal, but somewhat effective."

5. AI and Security: Copilot vs. ChatGPT

The discussion shifts to the broader landscape of AI, comparing Microsoft's Copilot with other AI services like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Anthropic. Paul Thurrott is critical of Copilot's performance and integration, suggesting that Microsoft's strategy has led to a subpar AI experience for users.

Paul Thurrott [104:33]: "Microsoft is over here spinning their wheels. They're trying to implement AI everywhere, but it's not working as intended."

The hosts debate Microsoft's investment in AI infrastructure, with Paul Thurrott mentioning an anticipated $80 billion expenditure reported in upcoming earnings.

Paul Thurrott [108:34]: "Microsoft will release their next earnings statement soon, and we'll likely see revelations about their AI infrastructure investments."

6. Alternatives to Big Tech: Embracing Little Tech Solutions

In response to frustrations with big tech, the hosts advocate for embracing alternative solutions that prioritize privacy and user control.

• DuckDuckGo's Enhancements:

  Paul Thurrott [124:21]: "DuckDuckGo allows users to customize their AI interactions and even toggle AI-generated content off entirely, offering a flexible and privacy-centric search experience."

• 1Password and Threat Locker:

  Leo Laporte highlights Threat Locker as a robust security solution that offers Zero Trust protection, praised by users like Mark Tolson of the City of Champaign.

  Leo Laporte [22:09]: "Threat Locker provides unprecedented protection quickly, easily, and cost-effectively."

• Synology Drive:

  Paul Thurrott shares his positive experience with Synology Drive, emphasizing its reliability as an alternative to OneDrive and Google Drive.

  Paul Thurrott [142:23]: "Synology Drive has been exceptionally reliable for my backups, outperforming services like OneDrive and Google Drive."

The conversation extends to various open-source tools and smaller tech companies that offer viable alternatives to mainstream applications, fostering a more secure and user-controlled digital environment.

7. PC Building: Richard Campbell's New Ryzen 9 Build

Richard Campbell announces his plan to build a new PC powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 processor, replacing his decade-old Intel system. This build aims to enhance his streaming and computing capabilities.

Richard Campbell [02:07]: "We're building an AMD Ryzen 9 PC to replace my old Gen 8 Intel streaming machine."

The hosts tease an upcoming live build session scheduled for the next day, promising an engaging and informative experience for viewers interested in the technical aspects of PC assembly.

8. Whiskey Pick of the Week: Ben Romack 10

Adding a personal touch, Paul Thurrott introduces the week's whiskey selection: Ben Romack 10. He delves into the distillery's rich history and provides tasting notes.

Paul Thurrott [141:03]: "Ben Romack 10 is an excellent intro to peated Scotch with its distinct smoky flavor balanced by a bit of spice and woodiness."

The detailed recount of Ben Romack's journey, from its founding to acquisition and rebirth, paints a vivid picture of a family-run distillery committed to quality and tradition.

9. Concluding Remarks

The episode wraps up with plans for future content, including transitioning to Linux Weekly in the following week and celebrating milestone episodes. The hosts encourage listeners to explore alternative tech solutions and remain critical of big tech's influence on their digital lives.

Leo Laporte [168:13]: "Join us next week as Windows Weekly transforms into Linux Weekly, focusing on the growing importance of Linux in the desktop space."

Notable Quotes

• Paul Thurrott [04:07]: "Many people may not know, but the Microsoft Store used to sell music, movies, TV shows, and ebooks. Now, they're phasing out the Movies and TV service."

• Richard Campbell [08:11]: "I appreciate that Microsoft's finally killing off products they don't care about rather than just leaving them hanging."

• Paul Thurrott [25:50]: "These features create a bifurcation where some users get advanced AI capabilities while others are left with limited functionalities."

• Paul Thurrott [82:46]: "Copilot is never going to be a big deal on iPhones or Android platforms. It's just never going to compete effectively with ChatGPT."

• Richard Campbell [28:30]: "Settings Agent allows you to use natural language to find and adjust settings."

• Paul Thurrott [104:33]: "Microsoft is over here spinning their wheels. They're trying to implement AI everywhere, but it's not working as intended."

• Paul Thurrott [124:21]: "DuckDuckGo allows users to customize their AI interactions and even toggle AI-generated content off entirely, offering a flexible and privacy-centric search experience."

• Paul Thurrott [142:23]: "Synology Drive has been exceptionally reliable for my backups, outperforming services like OneDrive and Google Drive."

• Leo Laporte [22:09]: "Threat Locker provides unprecedented protection quickly, easily, and cost-effectively."

• Paul Thurrott [141:03]: "Ben Romack 10 is an excellent intro to peated Scotch with its distinct smoky flavor balanced by a bit of spice and woodiness."

Conclusion

Episode 942 of Windows Weekly offers a comprehensive look into Microsoft's current challenges with AI integration and consumer services, emphasizing the need for alternative tech solutions that prioritize user privacy and control. The hosts provide insightful commentary, backed by personal experiences and expert opinions, making it a valuable listen for both tech enthusiasts and everyday users seeking to navigate the evolving digital landscape.