LG TVs’ unremovable Copilot shortcut is the least of smart TVs’ AI problems

A recent uproar has emerged among LG TV users after one owner reported a firmware update that seemingly installed an unremovable generative AI feature on their device. The debate ignited on Saturday when a Reddit user shared their frustration over the sudden appearance of a Microsoft Copilot icon, a familiar sight for Windows users, on their television. The Reddit user expressed their discontent, claiming that the update had forcibly added Copilot, which cannot be removed. They remarked, "Pre-installed crap is universally dogshit. If I wanted it, I’d have installed it myself eventually. The whole reason it’s bundled is because no one would choose it… Burn your television." This post has garnered significant attention, amassing 36,000 upvotes from fellow users who echoed similar sentiments. In response to the backlash, various news outlets reported on the dissatisfaction among LG customers regarding what was described as an "unremovable Microsoft Copilot installation." Many LG TV owners were alarmed, anticipating that they might encounter the same feature in future updates. LG has since acknowledged that a webOS update introduced the Copilot shortcut to select television models. However, the company clarified that the update did not install the Copilot application itself, but merely created a shortcut to the Copilot web app that launches in the TV’s browser. LG spokesperson Chris De Maria emphasized that features requiring microphone input will only be activated with the user's explicit consent. He explained that the shortcut was intended to enhance customer accessibility and convenience. Despite this explanation, critics argue that companies like LG have yet to effectively communicate the necessity of integrating AI features into non-computing devices, such as televisions, leaving users questioning the relevance of such updates.