Microsoft Is Discontinuing Copilot AI Assistant Support on All Smart TVs

Microsoft is ending support for its Copilot AI assistant on all smart TVs, marking an exit from living room displays nearly two years after launching the feature. The change affects TV setups across major manufacturers, including Samsung and LG, which had previously announced Copilot integration for their smart TVs at CES 2025.

Discontinuation Discovered via On-Screen Notice

The decision was revealed not through an official press conference, but via an on-screen notification received by Windows Central reporter Zac Bowden on his webOS-powered LG TV.

"Microsoft has recently decided to end support for Copilot functionality on all TVs, including the Copilot-enabled feature available on our LG TVs. As a result, the Copilot-enabled feature on your TV is no longer available and may stop functioning shortly," the notification read.

According to the message, the feature is "scheduled for discontinuation during 2026," though an exact final shutdown date remains subject to Microsoft's timeline.

A Brief and Troubled Living Room History

Copilot on Samsung and LG smart TVs was designed to act as an AI-powered conversational companion. Users could chat with the assistant, ask questions about whatever content was currently on screen, or request personalized recommendations for TV shows and movies.

However, the feature's rollout was not without friction. Last December, LG faced significant criticism after a webOS update automatically added an unremovable Microsoft Copilot shortcut to user TV dashboards. The shortcut launched the assistant's web application inside a browser. Following widespread online user frustration over the forced software addition, LG eventually issued an update allowing owners to delete the shortcut.

Shift to Business and Productivity

The decision to pull Copilot from smart TVs aligns with a broader strategic pivot by Microsoft. Earlier this year, the company introduced a new Copilot "super app" that unified chat, autonomous agents, and coding features into a single interface.

This move reflects Microsoft's push to position Copilot primarily as a business and productivity tool, shifting away from consumer-oriented digital companion experiences on media devices.