While Microsoft continues to push Copilot at the heart of Windows, Microsoft 365, and its entire professional ecosystem, a statement in its terms of use is surprising. The EULA (End User License Agreement) for 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 mention is likely legally prudent, but it directly clashes with how the company is currently presenting its AI assistant to the general public and businesses.
A formula that undermines Microsoft’s narrative
The contrast is striking: on one hand, Microsoft markets Copilot as a productivity and efficiency tool capable of supporting daily professional uses, and on the other, its own terms state clearly that the tool is not guaranteed, may provide inaccurate responses, and should not serve as a basis for important decisions. This apparent paradox illustrates the fundamental ambiguity of current generative AI: it is marketed (in every sense of the term) as a high-level assistant, while legally framed as a fallible system to be used with the utmost caution.
Microsoft promises a revision of the text
In response to the reactions prompted by this statement, Microsoft has indicated that it is a description inherited from an earlier phase of the product and that an update will be forthcoming. In other words, the company implicitly acknowledges that this statement is no longer aligned with how Copilot is now positioned. The issue is that this kind of discrepancy inevitably fuels mistrust at a time when AI developers are seeking to reassure users about the maturity of their tools.
A caution that the entire industry applies in similar forms
Microsoft is not alone in protecting itself in this way. Other major AI players, such as OpenAI or xAI, also emphasize that their models should not be seen as the sole source of truth. This caution has become an almost sector-wide reflex: AI companies without exception tout the power of their tools while emphasizing in their legal documents that these tools may hallucinate, make mistakes, or produce incomplete content.
In the end, Microsoft will likely correct the wording of its EULA, but the essence remains the same: AI can increasingly assist us more effectively without completely eliminating the need for human judgment.
