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.

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.

Google invests $75 million in A24 for an AI-driven filmmaking experiment

Google is making a bold move into Hollywood, pouring roughly $75 million into A24, the indie studio behind hits like Backrooms and Obsession. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, this isn’t just a cash injection—it’s a strategic bet on how artificial intelligence can reshape the creative process. The investment comes with a new research partnership between A24 and Google DeepMind, Google’s advanced AI lab. This means that Google invests in A24 not only as a financial backer but as a co-creator of future filmmaking tools.

For years, A24 has built a reputation as the most filmmaker-friendly studio in the business. Now, it’s joining forces with one of the world’s leading AI research teams. The goal, according to DeepMind, is to let artists shape the technology rather than the other way around. Directors and producers at A24 will get hands-on access to DeepMind’s research and infrastructure. In return, DeepMind gets real-world feedback from working filmmakers as they develop new tools together.

DeepMind cofounder and CEO Demis Hassabis put it simply: the best way to build tools that actually empower artists is to work with them directly from day one. This partnership is designed to be collaborative, not exploitative. Importantly, the deal does not give Google access to A24’s existing film and television library or its data. So your favorite A24 titles—from Moonlight to Everything Everywhere All at Once—remain exactly where they are.

Why Google chose A24 for its AI filmmaking push

A24 has spent the last decade building a brand that people genuinely love. Survey data shows that more than half of moviegoers count themselves as fans of the studio itself, not just individual movies. This deep audience loyalty makes A24 an ideal partner for experimenting with new technologies like AI. Moreover, the studio is gearing up for its biggest project yet: a roughly $175 million Elden Ring adaptation, directed by Alex Garland. This high-profile production could serve as a testbed for AI-assisted filmmaking techniques.

This deal lands amid a broader wave of studios warming up to AI. Martin Scorsese recently joined AI startup Black Forest Labs as an adviser, using its tools to storyboard an upcoming project. Meanwhile, Netflix quietly built its own AI animation studio, INKubator, to crank out AI-generated shorts and specials. And OpenAI went even further, backing an AI-assisted animated feature called Critterz that’s heading straight for Cannes, made on a $30 million budget using OpenAI’s own tools from start to finish.

Building on this trend, the A24-DeepMind partnership stands out because of its focus on artistic input. Instead of imposing AI on filmmakers, the collaboration lets directors and writers guide the development of new tools. This could lead to innovations in areas like storyboarding, visual effects, or even script analysis—all while keeping the human creative voice at the center.

What this means for A24’s films going forward

So, what will actually change for A24 movies? The partnership is still in its early stages, but the potential is huge. Filmmakers might get access to AI tools that help them visualize scenes faster, experiment with different camera angles, or even generate rough cuts of complex sequences. DeepMind’s expertise in areas like generative AI and computer vision could directly translate into practical filmmaking aids.

However, the deal is careful to protect A24’s creative independence. No existing library or data is being handed over. This means that any AI tools developed will be used on a project-by-project basis, with filmmakers retaining control over how they’re applied. As a result, the studio’s signature aesthetic—gritty, human, and emotionally resonant—should remain intact.

For Google, this investment is a way to gain credibility in the entertainment world. By partnering with a beloved indie studio, they avoid the stigma of being seen as a tech giant trying to automate creativity. Instead, they position themselves as collaborators who want to empower artists. Check out more about how AI is changing filmmaking and Google’s AI projects in 2025 for broader context.

Could this lead to AI-generated A24 films?

Not likely—at least not in the way you might imagine. The focus is on tools, not full automation. DeepMind wants to build software that assists directors, not replaces them. Think of it as a digital assistant for complex tasks, not a robot filmmaker. This approach mirrors what other studios are doing: Netflix uses AI for animation, but human writers still drive the stories. A24’s model will probably be similar, but with more direct input from filmmakers.

In fact, the Elden Ring adaptation could be the first major test. With a budget of $175 million, it’s a high-stakes project that could benefit from AI-assisted planning. Director Alex Garland, known for his visually ambitious films like Ex Machina and Annihilation, might use DeepMind’s tools to streamline pre-production or experiment with new visual effects. If successful, this could set a precedent for how AI is used in big-budget indie films.

The bigger picture: AI’s growing role in cinema

This deal is part of a larger shift. Studios are increasingly exploring AI to cut costs, speed up production, or create new kinds of storytelling. But A24’s partnership with DeepMind is unique because it prioritizes artist feedback. While Netflix and OpenAI are building AI tools in-house, A24 is inviting a tech giant into its creative process. This could lead to more organic, filmmaker-approved AI applications.

Nevertheless, there are concerns. Some critics worry that AI could homogenize filmmaking, reducing the diversity of styles and voices. Others fear job losses for writers, editors, or visual effects artists. The A24 deal seems designed to avoid these pitfalls by keeping humans in control. Yet, as AI becomes more powerful, the line between assistance and replacement may blur.

One thing is clear: even the coolest indie studios are now AI’s newest playground. Google’s investment in A24 signals that the future of filmmaking will be shaped by both human creativity and machine intelligence. Whether that’s a good thing depends on how carefully these tools are used. For now, A24 fans can rest assured that their favorite studio is still in the driver’s seat—just with a very powerful engine under the hood.