Windows 11 Gets Copilot Again — This Time Through Office Updates, Unless You’re in Europe

Just two months after making Copilot removable from Windows 11, Microsoft is quietly reinstalling it. The tech giant has shifted tactics, using the Office suite’s update mechanism instead of the Microsoft Store. This new Copilot Windows 11 installation method is harder to block, but it does not affect all users — particularly those in Europe.

How Microsoft Is Reinstalling Copilot on Windows 11

Instead of relying on the Microsoft Store’s auto-install feature — which administrators and users could disable — Microsoft is now bundling Copilot with updates for commercial Microsoft 365 desktop apps. The rollout runs from mid-June to mid-July, giving it roughly a 30-day window to land on enterprise machines.

This means that if your organization uses Microsoft 365 Business accounts, Copilot may appear without warning. The only way to prevent it is for an administrator to disable Copilot in the Admin Center before the update hits.

Why Europe Is Exempt From the Copilot Installation

Users in the European Union are currently spared from this forced installation. The exemption likely stems from competition law, which has previously kept Microsoft from aggressively bundling products in European markets. This is not the first time the region has received special treatment — similar legal scrutiny has shaped Microsoft’s rollout strategies for years.

It is worth noting that the change does not affect regular Windows 11 Home users either. Only commercial Microsoft 365 accounts are targeted, meaning the majority of consumers remain untouched.

The Admin Settings Are Deliberately Scattered

For organizations that want to block Copilot, the process is intentionally cumbersome. Settings to disable the AI assistant are spread across the Admin Center and individual app configurations for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. Microsoft calls this approach a way to “simplify” access, but critics see it as friction designed to discourage removal.

Building on this, a previously leaked internal document revealed that Microsoft’s goal with its AI products is not just adoption but to create dependency. The force-install method and the deliberate difficulty around removing Copilot align with that broader strategy.

What This Means for Enterprise IT Administrators

If you manage a fleet of Windows 11 machines running Microsoft 365, you need to act before mid-July. Log into the Admin Center and navigate to the Copilot settings. From there, disable the assistant across all apps. This is the only reliable way to stop the update from adding Copilot to your users’ systems.

However, even after disabling it, some users may still see the Copilot icon. In that case, you can remove it manually via Group Policy or registry edits. For more details, check our guide on how to remove Copilot from Windows 11.

The Bigger Picture: Microsoft’s AI Dependency Strategy

This move is part of a larger push to integrate Microsoft Copilot deeply into the Windows ecosystem. The company is betting big on AI, and it wants users to rely on its tools rather than third-party alternatives. By making Copilot harder to remove, Microsoft ensures that even reluctant users are exposed to its AI features.

For those in Europe, the exemption may be temporary. Competition laws could change, or Microsoft might find another workaround. In the meantime, IT administrators outside the EU should prepare for the forced installation and take steps to block it before the June-July window closes.

As always, staying informed about Windows 11 updates is key to maintaining control over your organization’s devices. The Copilot saga is far from over.

Samsung’s New UFS 5.0 Chip Promises Faster On-Device AI and Longer Battery Life for Your Smartphone

Samsung has officially announced its fastest storage chip yet, the Samsung UFS 5.0 chip, designed specifically to supercharge on-device AI. With data transfer speeds reaching an impressive 10.8GB per second, this new chip promises to make AI tasks on your smartphone feel significantly smoother and more responsive.

Why Storage Speed Matters for AI on Your Phone

As artificial intelligence shifts from cloud servers to local devices, the need for faster storage has grown dramatically. Samsung notes that storage chips are now evolving into essential infrastructure for AI, rather than just a place to store photos and apps. This means that the Samsung UFS 5.0 chip is not merely about speed—it is about enabling a new generation of intelligent features.

The new chip delivers read speeds up to 10.8GB per second and write speeds up to 9.5GB per second, which is more than double the previous UFS 4.1 standard. In practical terms, this translates to less lag and quicker responses when your phone runs AI models locally, without needing to connect to a server. For everyday users, this could mean faster voice assistants, smarter camera enhancements, and more seamless augmented reality experiences.

UFS 5.0 Brings Better Power Efficiency and a Smaller Footprint

Beyond raw speed, Samsung has significantly improved power efficiency. The new chip uses advanced clock gating and multi-voltage technology to cut energy consumption by over 40% compared to its predecessor, the UFS 4.1 chip. This efficiency boost directly contributes to longer battery life, even when your device is handling heavy AI workloads throughout the day.

Furthermore, the physical size of the chip has been reduced to just 7.5mm x 13mm x 0.9mm, making it about 16.7% smaller than before. This compact design gives smartphone manufacturers more flexibility in internal layout, allowing for slimmer devices or additional components. Samsung plans to start mass production of the Samsung UFS 5.0 chip in the fourth quarter of this year, with storage capacities reaching up to 1TB.

Impact on Flagship Devices and Wearables

This chip is clearly aimed at flagship smartphones, wearables, and XR headsets. As a result, on-device AI is set to become a much bigger part of everyday gadget interactions. For instance, users can expect faster image recognition, real-time language translation, and improved gaming performance without draining the battery.

In addition, the smaller chip size may enable new form factors for foldable phones and smart glasses. Samsung’s focus on both speed and efficiency suggests that future devices will be more capable and longer-lasting, addressing two of the biggest consumer pain points: performance and battery life.

What This Means for Your Next Smartphone

If you are curious about how faster storage might affect your next phone, consider this: the Samsung UFS 5.0 chip is not just about numbers—it is about real-world improvements. Apps will load almost instantly, AI-powered features will respond without delay, and your battery will last longer even under heavy use.

Building on this, Samsung has also confirmed the Exynos 2700 processor, which may be heading towards the Galaxy S27 series. This combination of faster storage and powerful processing could redefine what smartphones can do. For more insights, check out our guide on how to optimize phone storage for AI and the best smartphones of 2025.

Overall, the Samsung UFS 5.0 chip represents a significant leap forward in mobile storage technology. With faster speeds, better efficiency, and a smaller size, it is poised to make on-device AI a seamless part of your daily life. Get ready for a smarter, faster, and more battery-friendly smartphone experience.

From legal battles to licensing deals: Getty Images now supplies visuals for ChatGPT

The artificial intelligence landscape is full of unexpected twists, but few are as striking as the new Getty Images OpenAI partnership. Just a few years after accusing AI companies of wholesale theft, Getty Images has signed an official agreement to provide its vast library of professional images directly to OpenAI for use in ChatGPT.

Under this deal, Getty’s licensed photos, illustrations, and archival material will appear within ChatGPT’s search and discovery features. Users asking questions or seeking information may now see Getty’s high-quality visuals integrated directly into AI-generated answers. The goal, according to Getty, is to make AI-powered search more reliable and trustworthy by relying on properly sourced, permission-based content rather than the murky data sets that have sparked so much controversy.

What the Getty Images OpenAI partnership means for AI-generated search

This collaboration marks a significant shift in how major content platforms interact with generative AI. For years, Getty Images has been one of the loudest voices demanding that AI companies respect copyright and obtain proper licenses before training on creative works. Now, instead of fighting in court, they are working together.

OpenAI gains access to one of the world’s largest collections of professional photography, covering news, sports, entertainment, historical events, and more. For ChatGPT users, this means richer, more visually engaging responses. Instead of generic or unverified images, the AI can pull from Getty’s curated, high-quality library.

On the other side, Getty Images opens a new revenue stream and reinforces its position that AI should be built on licensed, ethical foundations. This is not just a business deal—it is a statement that content owners and AI developers can coexist through formal agreements.

How this deal reshapes the AI copyright debate

The Getty Images OpenAI partnership sends a powerful signal to the rest of the industry. Up until now, the conversation around generative AI has been dominated by lawsuits, accusations of theft, and demands for compensation. Getty itself was among the companies that sued AI image generators for using its content without permission.

This new agreement does not erase those concerns, but it does offer a blueprint for a different path. Instead of endless litigation, rights holders and AI companies can negotiate licensing terms that benefit both sides. It suggests that the AI industry is moving from a phase of confrontation to one of collaboration.

Of course, not every content creator will be satisfied. Small photographers and independent artists may still feel left out of these large-scale deals. But for major archives and media companies, this partnership demonstrates that there is a viable commercial model for AI-generated content.

Why this matters for the future of AI search

The integration of Getty Images into ChatGPT is part of a broader trend. Search engines and AI assistants are increasingly relying on licensed, verified content to improve accuracy and trustworthiness. As AI-generated answers become more common, the quality of the underlying data becomes critical.

By partnering with a trusted source like Getty, OpenAI is betting that users will value professional, properly attributed visuals over random or unverified images. This could set a new standard for how AI companies source their content. It also puts pressure on competitors to strike similar deals with other major archives.

For publishers and photographers, this deal offers a potential model for monetizing their work in the age of AI. Instead of fighting a losing battle against scraping and unauthorized use, they can negotiate licensing agreements that generate revenue.

What comes next for the Getty Images and OpenAI partnership

Neither company has disclosed the financial terms of the agreement, but the strategic implications are clear. OpenAI strengthens its position as a responsible AI developer, while Getty Images secures a place at the table as AI reshapes how people find and consume visual content.

This is likely just the beginning. As AI search becomes more visual, similar partnerships between content owners and AI platforms will probably multiply. The key takeaway is that the era of AI companies taking whatever they want from the internet may be ending. In its place, a new era of licensing and collaboration is beginning.

For more on how AI is transforming content licensing, read our guide on AI content licensing trends. You can also explore how ChatGPT uses images in search.