2024-03-09 09:55:00
Windows 10 and 11 users were surprised one morning to see a huge QR code appear, displayed right in the middle of their PC’s lock screen. This was an ad for downloading Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant.
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It was expected that Windows 11 would soon be flooded with ads to promote the Copilot AI, but we did not expect such drastic measures from Microsoft. The Windows 11 lock screen already has ads or “suggested” items. But the company is now going even further by experimenting with displaying QR codes right in the middle of the screen, redirecting to the download of Copilot.
Windows lock screen displays ad QR Code
Copilot is Microsoft’s new big product. The company is working to make its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered virtual assistant more powerful with every update. Obviously, this investment makes no sense without well-founded promotion.
This week, a Reddit user posted a screenshot showing this QR Code in the middle of the Windows 11 lock screen. Out of curiosity, it scans it, redirecting it to “a page that talks about Copilot“.
Oddly, the QR code is blocked by an icon requiring you to partially unlock the lock screen in order to scan it. In the comments, some people express their anger at seeing an advertisement appear as soon as the computer starts up. But most see this as an error on the part of Windows developers. The fact that the QR code is so poorly placed is for them the sign of yet another Windows 11 bug.
QR code ads, a way to “educate users” according to Microsoft
But another user reports having had the same thing on Windows 10! So this is not a bug, but rather a feature, strangely poorly implemented by Microsoft. Our counterparts from Windows Latest contacted the company to find out more. The software company responded to them, telling them that this was a test, now paused.
Read > Copilot AI will be able to open more easily in Windows 11
In France, Copilot is not yet available, which is why no one in France has seen this strange QR code appear. But in the United States, this ad was shown to a small group of Windows 11 users. When users scanned the code, they were redirected to the Copilot download site.
But the irritation of some people got the better of this ad. In response to Windows Latest, a Microsoft spokesperson said: “The notification was simply a way to educate users and has since been discontinued. We value our customers’ experience and are always learning to determine what is most valuable and for whom“.
- Windows 10 and 11 users have seen a huge QR code appear on their lock screen.
- It was an ad for Copilot, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence virtual assistant.
- Microsoft says this was an experiment, now paused in the face of user discontent.
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