Windows will abuse its own users. On PC screens without AI support, a “stigma of shame” will appear, a watermark that cannot be removed

Microsoft will “brand” all owners of computers whose processors do not have modules responsible for processing instructions for artificial intelligence. A corresponding watermark will appear on their screens, and there is no information yet on how to get rid of it.

Microsoft mocks users

Windows 11 users who do not have state-of-the-art computers will be forced to see a “stamp of shame” on the screen every day – a watermark, a reminder that the computer is not prepared to work with artificial intelligence, write the portals Tom’s Hardware and Neowin. Microsoft itself has not yet advertised this in any way – apparently, this was supposed to be a surprise for users.

The secret was revealed by a user of the American social network X, blocked in Russia, under the pseudonym Albacore (@thebookisclosed). In his blog, he published part of the system code, which is responsible for checking the presence of AI instructions in the processor and displaying a watermark on the screen if there are none.

The OS will notify users that they cannot use some system functions based on artificial intelligence algorithms. So far, the only way to get rid of the warning seems to be to upgrade your computer. You can also always abandon Windows itself, and many users do so – as CNews reported, the share of PCs running Linux began to grow rapidly and even broke its historical record.

Affects almost everyone

At the time of publication, neither Intel nor AMD could offer users a truly wide selection of processors with neuromodules, and other companies, with the exception of a few Chinese startups, are not engaged in mass production of x86 processors. NPU modules are still a common occurrence only in the world of chips for smartphones and tablets, but not for desktops and laptops.

You should look for neuromodules exclusively in the most modern processors – for example, in the 14th generation Intel Core and in the AMD Ryzen 8000 series. There are also Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus ARM processors, but as CNews reported, they are involved in a potential world-class scam.

It follows from this that if Microsoft decides to embed a watermark into the system indicating the absence of AI functions in the processor, then it will be an eyesore for the vast majority of Windows 11 users.

Why is this necessary?

Windows went without artificial intelligence features for decades, and users were unlikely to be very unhappy about their absence. Otherwise, Windows would not have gained a 72.12 percent share of the desktop OS market by March 2024 (data from StatCounter).

In August 2023, Microsoft cut out the Cortana voice assistant, whose popularity was near zero, from Windows 11 and Windows 10, and built in Copilot instead – initially an AI programmer assistant on the GitHub portal, which later evolved into a voice assistant for Windows users. In 24H2, according to Tom’s Hardware, a large-scale update is coming, which will require AI functions of the processor.

Along with this, Microsoft is going to integrate artificial intelligence into Explorer, the standard Windows file manager. What exact duties the AI ​​will perform as part of it is still unknown.

There is time to prepare

You need to master a new OS, buy a new computer or laptop, or simply put up with Microsoft’s next ridicule of owners of not the newest computers in the next few months. The innovation, writes Tom’s Hardware, will become part of Windows 11 with the release of the major update 24H2, which is tentatively scheduled for autumn 2024.

Speaking about the ridicule of the software giant, let us recall that it has previously “poked its finger” at the user’s outdated PC, displaying the corresponding watermark on the screen. It was seen by owners of desktops and laptops whose specifications do not meet the inflated system requirements of Windows 11.

By the way, many owners of such PCs will not be able to use the 24H2 assembly at all. As CNews reported, the update will include a mandatory requirement for the processor to support the SSE4.2 instruction, which is present in all chips released after 2010. The vast majority of earlier CPUs do not have it.

A mistake can be very costly

The news about the possible appearance of a watermark in Windows indicating that the user has not yet bought the latest PC comes at a bad time for Microsoft. Information about mandatory support for SSE4.2 in Windows 11 has already become the reason for many dissatisfied posts on social networks, as well as advertising in the Start menu that the April update brings to the system.

In early 2024, Microsoft, oblivious to user demands, removed WordPad from Windows, forcing users to either use the less-featured Notepad or purchase an Office license. There is no data on how many of them ended up switching to third-party office suites or downloading a pirated version of Office.

There is a possibility that the new watermark will cause a huge wave of negativity against Microsoft. In the end, not everyone has the opportunity to buy the top-end computer just so that Windows does not “swear” at the hardware.