Windows 11 Copilot Ad Fails Basic Text Scaling Test, Highlighting AI's Unpredictability

The Bot's Blunder: Copilot's Gaffe in Windows 11 Ad Undermines AI Hype

In the relentless march towards an AI-infused future, even the most ardent skeptics often concede that artificial intelligence can, at times, genuinely simplify our lives. Imagine an elderly relative effortlessly navigating the intricate settings of a new iPad or Windows machine, a scenario that Microsoft is actively trying to sell with its latest promotional efforts for Copilot Vision. However, their recent advertising campaign took an unexpected and rather embarrassing detour, showcasing Copilot offering demonstrably incorrect advice within the most rudimentary of tasks.

A Simple Task, A Complex Failure

On November 12th, Microsoft unveiled a promotional video on X, featuring the well-known tech reviewer UrAvgConsumer. He portrays an end-user struggling with a seemingly straightforward objective: to increase the text size on his Windows 11 display. "Hey Copilot, show me where to click," he prompts, initiating the demonstration of the touted Copilot Vision feature. The AI correctly identifies and highlights the 'Display' section within the system settings, then points to the 'Scale' option. The critical misstep occurs when the user seeks further clarification on the percentage to select. Copilot confidently advises, "Let's go with 150%, it's the recommended size." The irony? The on-screen display clearly shows that 150% is already the default setting. Undeterred, UrAvgConsumer proceeds to manually adjust the scaling to 200%, exclaiming, "There, now both the text and icons are bigger." This pivotal moment, where the user achieves the desired outcome through their own action rather than the AI's guidance, is starkly visible in the official advertisement, creating a significant credibility gap.

A Cascade of Inaccuracies and User Frustration

This conspicuous flaw has ignited a firestorm of bewilderment and criticism. Firstly, Copilot's verbal instructions are palpably at odds with the visual cues presented on screen. Secondly, the AI's recommendation is to maintain the status quo – essentially advising no action when an adjustment is clearly needed. Most critically, Copilot completely bypasses the dedicated accessibility features for text enlargement. These are conveniently located within the 'Accessibility' section, offering a granular slider specifically for text size, distinct from system-wide scaling which affects all elements.

Savvy users were quick to point out these deficiencies. The post on X was soon inundated with a "Readers added context" section, featuring a link to Microsoft's official guide on precisely how to alter text size in Windows 11. The situation becomes even more ironic when considering that a simple search query via Bing yields the correct instructions immediately. In a follow-up test conducted by Windows Latest, the very same scenario produced a different, and crucially, correct result: Copilot Vision accurately navigated to 'Accessibility' then 'Text Size'. This inconsistency highlights the unpredictable nature inherent in large language models (LLMs), a characteristic that, while understandable, is hardly ideal for a flagship product's promotional material.

An Own Goal in the AI Race

The entire episode is particularly perplexing given that this video wasn't an impromptu, unscripted demonstration. It was a deliberate, commissioned advertisement – a paid collaboration. Microsoft undoubtedly had ample opportunity to reshoot the video, revise the voiceover, or simply conduct multiple takes to ensure a flawless execution. The fact that the ad was released with such a glaring error, one that a novice user could easily spot, speaks volumes about the quality control, or lack thereof, in its AI integration strategy.

This misstep arrives at a time when Windows 11 is being saturated with Copilot-centric content. Microsoft is aggressively marketing the "Hey Copilot" command as the future of Windows 11, positioning it as an "agent operating system." Yet, this push is met with increasing user discontent. Many are expressing their frustration with the pervasive integration of AI into every facet of the operating system, with some even contemplating a switch to alternative platforms. Amidst this AI-driven narrative, it's worth noting that Windows 11 did receive beneficial updates in November 2025, including a customizable Start menu, a refreshed battery icon, enhanced gaming performance, and improved battery life on portable consoles. However, these substantive improvements are unfortunately overshadowed by the cacophony surrounding the flawed Copilot demonstration.