Microsoft Copilot AI faced criticisms over performance and reliability issues
Microsoft Copilot faces performance, accuracy and adoption problems in 2025 amid internal pressure and stiff competition.
As 2025 comes to a close, Microsoft is facing mounting criticism over its flagship AI assistant, Copilot, which has struggled to meet expectations since its launch nearly three years ago. Promoted as a revolutionary tool intended to enhance productivity across the Windows ecosystem and Microsoft’s suite of Office products, Copilot has instead become a lightning rod for complaints about performance, accuracy, and usability.
Critics argue that Microsoft’s ambitious vision for Copilot has not translated into a seamless and reliable user experience. Common grievances include slow response times, errors in outputs, and a user interface that feels more like an afterthought than a core part of everyday workflows. "Almost unusable" is how Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reportedly described some of Copilot’s integrations, as internal frustrations with the AI tool mirror external dissatisfaction.
Struggles in the Face of Competition
The competitive AI landscape has only amplified scrutiny of Copilot’s shortcomings. While Microsoft invested heavily in integrating OpenAI’s technology into its offerings, rivals such as Google have surged ahead with their own advanced systems. Google’s Gemini, for example, has drawn comparisons for its significantly higher user engagement and broader appeal, leaving Copilot trailing.
Nadella has reportedly expressed impatience with Copilot’s performance, urging engineering teams to accelerate improvements. According to a report from The Information, he has personally overseen efforts to address Copilot's perceived flaws, further underscoring the high stakes of Microsoft’s AI strategy. Despite these efforts, Copilot’s adoption rates remain lackluster compared to competitors, with enterprise clients in particular voicing concerns about data privacy, inconsistent reliability, and the need for extensive verification of AI-generated outputs.
User Frustration and Internal Pressures
User feedback has revealed a gap between Microsoft’s lofty promises and the real-world performance of Copilot. Polls and reviews, such as discussions on Windows Central, suggest that many users prefer alternatives like ChatGPT or Claude, citing Copilot’s limited functionality and frequent inaccuracies. Even as Microsoft touts Copilot’s 100 million monthly users, the tool’s overall adoption falls short of expectations in a rapidly evolving market.
Internally, these issues have created pressure within Microsoft. Nadella’s directive to treat AI as a non-optional priority has reportedly strained teams, with some engineers feeling the weight of competing against more effective solutions from rivals. Reports indicate that recent updates, such as the November 2025 release of Copilot Studio with GPT-5 integration, have failed to fully address persistent criticisms, including the generation of hallucinated information and struggles with complex tasks.
Critiques From Industry and Beyond
External analysts have not held back in their assessments of Copilot’s shortcomings. A TechRadar analysis labeled the AI assistant a mistake, criticizing its execution and its confinement within the Windows ecosystem. The publication highlighted broader frustrations with Microsoft’s software approach, including issues with Windows 11’s bloatware and forced updates, which have further alienated users.
On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), dissatisfaction with Copilot has been amplified by commentary from influential tech figures. For example, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has repeatedly highlighted security flaws and inaccuracies in Copilot, echoing sentiments from enterprise customers and individual users alike. These critiques point to a larger trend of skepticism in Microsoft’s AI efforts, with many users calling for a return to basics rather than further AI experimentation.
Microsoft’s Path Forward
Microsoft has made efforts to address these challenges, introducing new features and updates throughout 2025 to enhance Copilot’s functionality. For example, tools aimed at assisting with year-end reviews or performance evaluations have been highlighted as practical applications. However, these updates have often been deemed incremental rather than transformative, leaving many users unsatisfied.
The company’s broader AI goals remain ambitious, as indicated by its push for superintelligence and further integrations across its product portfolio. Still, analysts warn that Microsoft risks undermining user trust if it cannot resolve systemic problems and deliver reliable, accurate tools.
Looking ahead, Microsoft faces critical decisions about how to refine its AI strategy. The company’s reliance on a closed ecosystem for Copilot, initially seen as a strength, has become a liability in the face of competition from more accessible platforms like Google’s Gemini. To regain its footing, Microsoft may need to prioritize cross-platform compatibility and focus on meeting user needs over chasing ambitious AI innovations.
As 2026 approaches, Microsoft’s ability to turn Copilot’s criticism into a catalyst for improvement will determine whether it can reclaim its position as a leader in the AI space. For now, the challenges surrounding Copilot serve as a cautionary tale about the complexities of marrying bold technological aspirations with practical, user-friendly execution.