LG smart TVs with webOS has become the new testing ground for the expansion of the Microsoft Copilot's artificial intelligenceAnd not exactly in the way many users would like. In recent weeks, complaints have multiplied on forums and social media about an update that installs the Copilot app without any real choice and without the possibility of removing it afterward.
The situation has sparked debate in Spain and the rest of Europe about to what extent can manufacturers modify a product that has already been sold? Through software updates, they add features that cannot be removed and that, moreover, raise serious questions about privacy and data usage. For many Smart TV owners, LG and Microsoft's move is a clear example of bloatware brought into the living room.
Copilot arrives on webOS unannounced and with no uninstall option
The origin of the conflict lies in a new version of webOS firmware for LG TVsThe update is being rolled out gradually to various compatible models. After installing the update, users will find the Microsoft Copilot icon directly on their home screen, placed alongside familiar platforms like YouTube and Netflix.
The problem isn't just that the app appears unexpectedly, but that It does not include any uninstallation option.Within the application management menu of the latest versions of webOS, Copilot behaves like a system app: it can only be hidden so that it is no longer visible, but it cannot be deleted or the space it occupies can be freed up.
Several users have explained in Reddit threads that they've tried various tricks to remove the app, from restoring the TV to factory settings to checking all the advanced settings sections. Nothing has worked, in line with what LG's own official documentation indicates, which states that Certain pre-installed TV apps cannot be removed under no circumstance.
The general feeling is that it is software imposed without explicit consentThis clashes head-on with the growing sensitivity surrounding digital rights in Europe. While license agreements and terms of service may contain clauses allowing manufacturers to add applications, the fact that users have no way to remove them is what is most outraged by the community.
Many affected people openly talk about bloatware, that is, added programs that were not requested These elements take up space, resources, and attention on the interface. Such practices were common on mobile phones and computers, and are now being transferred to the world of Smart TVs, with the added problem that customization options are more limited than on a PC or smartphone.
Privacy in the spotlight: Live Plus and content tracking
The controversy surrounding Copilot has also served to highlight another function of LG televisions: Live MoreThis tool, automatically activated in the same update on many devices, uses automatic content recognition to analyze in real time what is being viewed on the screen.
As LG itself explains in its informational texts, when Live Plus is activated, the television can collect data on the content played and viewing habits to offer personalized services, such as recommendations for series or movies, as well as advertisements tailored to the user's interests.
While the company presents this feature as an improvement to the user experience, in practice many owners perceive it as a form of constant surveillance in your classroomThe combination of an AI app that cannot be deleted with a system that monitors what is viewed has raised alarms among those who were already critical of the current Smart TV business model.
The key difference compared to Copilot is that Live Plus can be deactivated. On televisions sold in Europe, it is possible to access the menu of Settings > General > Additional settings (The exact route may vary depending on the model) and uncheck the option corresponding to Live Plus. This way, the user can stop content tracking, although the Copilot app will remain installed and visible unless manually hidden.
European consumer associations have long warned that the commercial exploitation of television usage data This is intensifying, and moves like this reinforce the perception that manufacturers prioritize the continued monetization of the device over the control that the buyer should have.
Goal: To bring Microsoft AI to every device in the home.
The forced arrival of Copilot on LG TVs with webOS should not be understood in isolation, but as part of the Microsoft's global strategy to expand its artificial intelligence Beyond PCs and cloud services. Following its strong commitment to OpenAI and the integration of GPT models into Windows and the Office suite, the company is taking steps to ensure its assistant is present. on all types of screens.
LG, for its part, had already announced at the beginning of the year a dedicated artificial intelligence section in their Smart TVspromising access to Copilot to help users find and organize complex information. Furthermore, the Korean brand has launched product lines like the OLED evo G5, featuring Microsoft AI as one of its key selling points.
The two companies also collaborate on other fronts, such as Xbox Cloud Gaming coming to cars with webOS-based systemsThis demonstrates the extent of a shared interest in expanding the Microsoft ecosystem beyond the traditional PC. For Microsoft, every connected TV is a new gateway to its conversational assistant.
However, in the specific case of televisions, many users question the real usefulness of a text chatbot in an environment where Typing with the remote control is tedious and impractical. Some suggest that the goal is not so much to make life easier for the consumer as to increase brand presence and gather usage data that may prove valuable in the medium term.
In Spain and other European countries, where regulations on personal data are stricter than in other markets, it remains to be seen whether data protection authorities They end up examining these AI integrations in consumer devices more closely, especially when they are done through automatic updates.
Between comfort and anger: user reactions
The discussion about Copilot on webOS has spread across subreddits like r/mildlyinfuriating and other tech forumswhere screenshots and testimonials from owners annoyed with the update are piling up. Many agree that they wouldn't object to the app's existence if it were optional, downloadable from the store, and, above all, uninstallable.
Some comments reflect a general weariness with the tactics of the tech industry: pre-installed software that nobody asked forThese features appear enabled by default, and the services sometimes feel more like data collection tools than genuine improvements to the user experience. In the case of Copilot, the idea of ​​having a permanent AI assistant on the TV is particularly unsettling for those who already distrusted these systems on mobile devices and computers.
There are also users who welcome the arrival of new AI-based features, but even among them the same complaint is repeated: the lack of control and transparencyBeing able to choose whether or not to use the application, deciding whether to keep it installed or not, and having clear information about what data is collected and for what purpose, are recurring requests in the community.
So far, neither LG nor Microsoft has offered detailed explanations or announced any changes to how Copilot is distributed on these televisions. Some specialized publications have contacted the South Korean company for comment, but for now... There is no strong public stance that addresses users' concerns.
The parallel with other cases of imposed software, such as the famous U2 album that Apple added to iTunes libraries without permission years ago, has repeatedly come up in the conversation. For many, The problem isn't so much the quality of service such as the fact that it is imposed unilaterally and without offering an easy way out to those who do not want it.
What can owners of an LG TV with webOS do?
Given this scenario, the options for European and Spanish users are quite limited. Some directly recommend Do not connect the TV to the Internet. or disable automatic updates to prevent unwanted new features, including the Copilot app, from being installed.
However, this solution has a clear drawback: Firmware updates also include security patchesBug fixes and performance improvements. Keeping your TV unplugged or running an older version of webOS can leave your device exposed to vulnerabilities and bugs that have been fixed in later versions.
In practice, the most reasonable recommendation is to adopt an intermediate approach: keep the television updated so as not to miss out on security improvements, but Hide the Microsoft Copilot app from the Start menu If you do not want to use it, disable Live Plus to stop content tracking for advertising purposes.
This combination doesn't solve the underlying problem—Copilot is still installed and taking up space—but it allows minimize its visible impact in daily use. In addition, users who are more concerned about privacy can review in detail the consent menus and data usage options within webOS.
Some owners have suggested that if pressure on social media and in specialized media continues, LG could be forced to Introduce in future updates an option to completely uninstall or disable CopilotFor now, this remains a hypothesis, but it reflects the desire of a significant part of the community to regain control over what is installed on their devices.
This whole case demonstrates how the race to integrate artificial intelligence into every home screen can clash head-on with the expectations of European users, who They value both the new features and their right to choose What software do they want on their devices? How LG and Microsoft handle the Copilot controversy on webOS will serve as a benchmark for the rest of the industry in the coming months.
