Microsoft's Copilot+ family of computers is reshaping the technology landscape, threatening users' control and autonomy over their devices.

In recent decades, the personal computer revolution has given users the freedom to customize and control their own digital experiences. However, this era may be gradually ending to make way for a new business model tightly controlled by giant technology corporations.

Apple, and then Google with Android, are leading the move to a “walled garden” business model in which users are increasingly less able to upgrade or repair their own devices and software. property.

Microsoft, once a leader in protecting the openness of personal computing, is now also updating Windows with a cloud- and AI-oriented model, especially through its new product line “Copilot+ PCs ”. New computers incorporating specialized AI processing units, or “NPUs” (Neural Processing Units), capable of performing more than 40 trillion calculations per second are a new tie-in piece to the ecosystem. Microsoft cloud.

Features like “Recall” and “Cocreator” require a constant internet connection, turning the PC into a data collection tool for Microsoft. Even the "Copilot" button on the keyboard becomes useless without internet. Clearly, Microsoft is building a digital "walled garden" where they can monitor, direct, and control the user experience to an unprecedented degree.

This is especially troubling when looking back at Microsoft's antitrust history. In the late 1990s, the company was embroiled in a historic lawsuit for abusing its monopoly position in the PC market to squeeze competitors, especially in the field of web browsers. Now, with the deep integration of Copilot into the Windows operating system, Microsoft is repeating history, using its advantage to shape the future of AI in their favor.

While users and businesses can still choose other AI solutions, the deep integration into the operating system gives Microsoft an unfair competitive advantage. Users who desire a seamless AI experience will automatically be led towards Microsoft's products.

However, the danger does not stop at monopoly. The “always on, always watching” feature of “Recall” poses a serious security and privacy threat. Sensitive business information can be continuously transferred to Microsoft servers without clear control.

What is worrying is that the ability of regulators to intervene seems to be fading as technology "giants" are increasingly increasing their influence on the government through lobbying activities.

For businesses, using Copilot+ PCs carries the risk of losing control of data and IT infrastructure – the lifeblood of any modern organization.

In this context, organizations such as the Foundation for the Endowment for Global Technology (FUTO) play an important role, supporting the development of open technology and software that respects users. Only sustained efforts to promote diversity and competition can sustain a future in which users control technology, rather than being controlled by it.

However, the challenge is not small. Businesses and individuals need to think carefully before investing in new solutions like AI computing, as they can lock them into a monopolistic ecosystem that can be difficult to escape without major trouble. The wise choice is not just to invest in technology, but also to ensure that the technology serves the interests of users, not the other way around.

As we enter a new era of computing, our decisions – whether purchasing, investing or developing technology – will shape our future. It's no small responsibility, but it's also an opportunity to ensure that the future of technology is one in which everyone has control and choice.