While Microsoft continues to integrate Copilot into the core of Windows, Microsoft 365, and its entire professional ecosystem, a clause in its terms of use is surprising. The EULA (end-user license agreement) of the service states that Copilot is intended for entertainment purposes, specifying that the AI tool can make mistakes and should not be relied upon for real advice. This legal disclaimer clashes with how the company currently presents its AI assistant to the public and businesses.
A Formula That Weakens Microsoft’s Narrative
The contrast is striking: on one hand, Microsoft promotes Copilot as a productivity and efficiency tool that can support daily professional use, but on the other hand, its own conditions clearly state that the tool is not guaranteed, may provide inaccurate responses, and should not be used as a reference for important decisions. This apparent paradox highlights the fundamental ambiguity of current generative AI: while marketed as a high-level assistant, it is legally framed as a fallible system to be used with caution.
Microsoft Promises a Revision of the Text
In response to the reactions provoked by this wording, Microsoft stated that it was a description inherited from an older phase of the product and that an update would be forthcoming. In other words, the company implicitly acknowledges that this mention no longer aligns with how Copilot is now positioned. The issue is that this kind of discrepancy inevitably fuels distrust at a time when AI developers are seeking to reassure users about the maturity of their tools.
A Precaution Applied Across the Industry in Similar Forms
Microsoft is not alone in taking such protective measures. Other major AI players, like OpenAI or xAI, also emphasize that their models should not be treated as a sole source of truth. This caution has become almost a sector-wide reflex: AI companies without exception highlight the power of their tools while emphasizing in their legal documents that these tools can make mistakes, hallucinate, or produce incomplete content.
In the end, Microsoft will likely correct the wording of its EULA, but the essence will remain the same: AI can assist us in a more effective manner, without completely eliminating the need for human judgment.
