Looks like Microsoft already dropped the Bing ChatGPT taskbar from Windows 11
The taskbar shortcut is no more for now
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It seems thatMicrosoft’s much-hypedAI-enabled Bingbutton on the Windows OS taskbar has already come to an end, according to several user reports.
As reported on byMSPowerUser,Windows 10and 11 users have stated that the button is no longer on their taskbar, replaced yet again by the previousBing-free taskbar search. There’s no official word from Microsoft as to why it removed the AI search, but most likely this feature was one of many tests and we’ll most likely see Microsoft try a better-integrated tool in the near future.
Considering how poorly it was received, it makes sense for Microsoft to pull back for now. TheWindows 11update that brought along the Bing AI taskbar created a huge issue: if you customized the user interface of the OS, there’s a bug thatcauses the PC to fail to boot.
Update: A Microsoft representative reached out to TechRadar with the following statement:
“The Bing icon in the Search Box is being shown through the existing Search Highlights feature which shows daily rotating content. We will continue to rotate content over time, including the Bing icon. We welcome those in the preview to give us feedback so we can continue to learn and tune the experience over time.”
Plenty of issues with the AI Bing taskbar
Even without that major fiasco, there have been plenty of complaints about the forced integration of the new taskbar from users, since it takes away the choice to use the AI search or not.
Another issue is that the way Microsoft represented just how the AI Bing taskbar works has been misleading at best. According to the official blog post: users have “the amazing capabilities of the new AI-powered Bing directly into the taskbar.” But instead, all the taskbar did waslaunch Bing’s new chatbotwithout having to type in the address. This means that you get whisked off to the Microsoft Edge browser and then are only allowed to use Bing if you registered, otherwise you needed to make an account.
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If and when the tech giant decides to reintegrate AI-enabled Bing on Windows OS, let’s hope it’s done properly and with a way to opt out of the whole process if you’re not into AI chat.
Named by the CTA as a CES 2023 Media Trailblazer, Allisa is a Computing Staff Writer who covers breaking news and rumors in the computing industry, as well as reviews, hands-on previews, featured articles, and the latest deals and trends. In her spare time you can find her chatting it up on her two podcasts, Megaten Marathon and Combo Chain, as well as playing any JRPGs she can get her hands on.
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