As Microsoft Forces Users to Ditch Windows 10, It Announces That It’s Also Turning Windows 11 into an AI Monstrosity

Futurism ^ | Oct 17, 2025 | Frank Landymore

[Openurmind]

Microsoft has officially ended support for Windows 10, all but forcing users to either upgrade or pay more money to keep getting essential security updates for the OS they already own. No matter that its replacement, Windows 11, can’t be run on nearly half a billion machines, meaning it’ll create mountains of e-waste as those old, perfectly usable PCs get thrown out for new ones.

If possible, things are getting even worse. This week, Microsoft is launching a suite of artificial intelligence features that basically turns existing Windows 11 systems into full-blown “AI PCs” which are controlled by Copilot, the company’s AI assistant. This isn’t us being uncharitable: it’s literally how a Microsoft exec is describing the update.

“We think we’re on the cusp of the next evolution, where AI happens not just in that chatbot and gets naturally integrated into the hundreds of millions of experiences that people use every day,” Yusuf Mehdi, executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer at Microsoft, told The Verge in a briefing. “The vision that we have is: let’s rewrite the entire operating system around AI, and build essentially what becomes truly the AI PC.”

[captain_dave]

Switch to Linux Mint.

[GingisK]

I’ll be making the transition to Linux now.

[Openurmind]

I understand what you are looking for. I honestly never cared much about how light it was or no because Linux is already so light compared to Microsoft. It was never a big priority. But I am running Mint “Cinnamon” and it is pretty quick and lighter than the Debian and Fedora. Cinnamon is actually the Gnome Desktop.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[Openurmind]

What blows me away is how big of a change it really is for most. It is not like changing brands of coffee, it is more like divorcing an old spouse and getting a new one. Although you want the new spouse to have all the “good” attributes of the old spouse without the “bad” it doesn’t work that way. There are going to be some challenges and some sacrifices you have to make. We sometimes just can’t have our cake and eat it too.

Holler at me if you need anything my friend... :)

[GingisK]

What sort of property is next door?

[Blue Highway]

I understand what you are looking for. I honestly never cared much about how light it was or no because Linux is already so light compared to Microsoft.

I think according to this the XFCE version is the lightest version of Linux Mint. I mentioned earlier that I got worse battery life than WIN10 with the XFCE version, so theoretically MATE would have a little worse battery life than XFCE, and Cinnamon would have worse battery life than MATE unless I am overlooking something.

It was never a big priority. But I am running Mint “Cinnamon” and it is pretty quick and lighter than the Debian and Fedora. Cinnamon is actually the Gnome Desktop.

Battery life IS a big priority to me though, so with that said, which version should I be running? Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[Twotone]

Very interesting. Seems there’s grounds for a lawsuit against Microsoft, if it manipulates your personal property without authorization.

[Openurmind]

Again I do not know which would be the easiest on your battery because I am never that dependent on my computer when mobile and hardly ever use it. But you may be asking for too much. The best I ever got out of a laptop battery “using it” was a couple hours unless it was sitting there asleep/hibernating. But if it is just going to sit I turn it off. So if you are getting more than three hours that is already incredible. I’m not sure in the real world I have ever heard of getting much more than that.

So I guess I can’t help much with that...

[MikelTackNailer]

Thanks for posting the install processes for clean and dual booting Linux Mint. I didn't know they refined their install so well for handling partitioning, which was my greatest concern. Saving everything one can is always best, but no one wants to do a bunch of re-intalls if they can avoid it.

You also enlightened me on how YouTube is a resource hog. That answered why my laptop battery sometimes goes down faster than expected - open YouTube tabs. Good to know.

Speaking of das Tube, do you know of a way to turn off or control their infernal algorithms? If I accidentally click away somehow and go back I find a whole new set of vids come up based on previous views while any I scanned past and wanted to go back to are gone for good.

It was also better when it didn't try to "tailor user preferences" and displayed a far wider range. That pain-in-the-ass programming is very much an early version of the A.I. concept that I distrust - and this presumptive and over-reaching decision making is exactly why.

[Openurmind]

“Seems there’s grounds for a lawsuit against Microsoft, if it manipulates your personal property without authorization.”

That is the problem. And Microsoft invented the contract model other companies use... In the License Terms Of Use contract it clearly states that the product is NEVER yours or your personal property. It always belongs to Microsoft and is never owned by the consumer outright. It also states they can terminate or adjust their product when they like and there is nothing you can do about it. You agree when you use the product License.

[doorgunner69]

“Just get your key. Research the word bitlocker”

That is a Win 10/11 thing, isn’t it?

Never saw any hint of it on Win 7

[dennisw]

ai ping

[doorgunner69]

Bookmark for later use

[Openurmind]

My privilege, and I hope others might be able to use it also. There are a whole lot of misconceptions about installing and using Linux. When they have actually came a long way and made it pretty easy. But they can’t set the Bios for you when it needs work and this is the biggest challenge some do have for sure. Bios is scary, bios is “brick it” time if you goof something. I can’t blame them, that is intimidating.

“That pain-in-the-ass programming is very much an early version of the A.I. concept that I distrust - and this presumptive and over-reaching decision making is exactly why.”

I watched it all come about play by play, I know exactly how you feel, I am in the same lane. They even throw in crap “they” want you to watch. And honestly, I do not know how to beat it now. Up until about a year ago I could use my “NoScript” script blocker to prevent those scripts yet still render the page to see all the elements on the page and still use it. They have now made it so that you absolutely have to allow that crap first to even render the site and use it at all.

Personally I have stopped going there altogether, I can live without them. I am not addicted like they suspect everyone is. I just take the time to go find other sources for information even if it is just text. I have not forgotten how to read yet... :)

[Openurmind]

I hope it helps... :)

[Openurmind]

“You also enlightened me on how YouTube is a resource hog. That answered why my laptop battery sometimes goes down faster than expected - open YouTube tabs. Good to know.”

Back again because this reminded me of something. About ten years ago for awhile Youtube was taking over and using your camera and microphone without permission. And that was just landing on their site. Not an account, not logged in nothing, just as guest user. They either do not do t anymore or they have figuered out how to sneak it in without anyone knowing. Google is Government surveillance. I am sorry to see the FR now has it included from their current hosting.

[Blue Highway]

3 hours? That’s pretty horrible battery life. Even my old HP from the early 2000s got better than that. Seems I’m asking the wrong person here.

[Organic Panic]

I was forced in to win 11 by a customer who demanded it for “security” reasons. I hate it. It is sooooo slow and bloated. If you must use it, get a new computer for the new software. Don’t install it on what works. Heck, several of my old machines run XP perfectly and I still use a server for FEA simulations on win 7.

[Openurmind]

“Seems I’m asking the wrong person here.’

I told you that THREE times and it went in one ear and out the other.