Microsoft Comments on Gaming Copilot AI Controversy
A major privacy debate has erupted around Microsoft’s new Gaming Copilot AI, after a user on ResetEra discovered that the feature, which comes preinstalled on all Windows 11 PCs through the Game Bar, was taking automatic gameplay screenshots and allegedly sending them back to Microsoft’s servers. The AI is also enabled by default, requiring users to manually navigate to the Game Bar’s Privacy Settings to disable its “Model training on text” option.
The discovery quickly sparked backlash among gamers and privacy advocates, many of whom accused Microsoft of introducing an intrusive feature without clear disclosure or consent. In response, Tom’s Hardware reached out to the company for clarification and published Microsoft’s official statement on the issue.
According to Microsoft:
“When you're actively using Gaming Copilot in Game Bar, it can use screenshots of your gameplay to get a better understanding of what's happening in your game and provide you with more helpful responses. These screenshots are not used to train AI models, and Gaming Copilot is an optional feature that only has access to gameplay when you're playing a game and actively using it. Separately, Gaming Copilot may use its text or voice conversations with players to help train and improve AI. Players can adjust Gaming Copilot's privacy settings by visiting ‘Settings’ in the Game Bar, followed by ‘Privacy Settings.’”
While Microsoft insists that screenshots are not used for AI model training, the company confirmed that text and voice interactions may be used to improve the AI’s conversational abilities, a distinction that still raises concerns about data collection transparency and user consent.
Gaming Copilot was originally tested earlier this year on mobile devices before beginning its global rollout on PC and the Xbox mobile app last month. Microsoft describes it as a virtual assistant for gamers, designed to recognize which title a player is running and provide real-time insights, guides, and contextual help. The AI can identify a user’s current game, link achievements or Xbox activity, and answer questions using data drawn from both the web and the player’s account history.
However, the controversy has reignited broader discussions around AI privacy policies in gaming. Many argue that features involving screen capture or telemetry should require explicit opt-in consent, rather than being enabled by default. Others fear this could set a precedent for deeper system-level AI monitoring that may inadvertently record or transmit sensitive data without users realizing it.
For now, Gaming Copilot remains optional, but it cannot be easily uninstalled, leaving privacy-conscious users with few options beyond disabling the feature through settings. Critics are urging Microsoft to revise its privacy defaults and make the tool fully opt-in to ensure compliance with global privacy standards.
Do you think Microsoft went too far by enabling Gaming Copilot by default, or is it simply the future of AI-enhanced gaming support? Share your thoughts below.
