The last few days have seen active discussion online about the scandal surrounding Gaming Copilot — a new AI assistant built into the Windows 11 Game Bar. Users claim that the program takes screenshots of every game launched and sends them to Microsoft.
According to them, the function is enabled by default, and it can only be disabled through several layers of privacy settings.
After a wave of criticism, the company gave an official comment. Microsoft representatives confirmed that Gaming Copilot can indeed take screenshots, but only when actively used — when the user asks a question or asks for help.
According to the company, the images are needed so that the AI can more accurately understand what is happening in the game and give more useful answers. This data is not used to train models. The function is completely optional and only has access to the gameplay when the player themselves turn to Copilot.
Microsoft clarified that text and voice requests can be used to improve language models, but the user has the right to disable this in the settings.
Gaming Copilot recognizes the launched game, analyzes Xbox account activity, and suggests information about achievements, mechanics, and strategies. The global launch of the function began in September 2025 on Windows 11 PCs and in the Xbox mobile app. Despite Microsoft's statements, users are concerned that the assistant was initially active, which raises questions about the protection of personal data. The company has promised to update the Game Bar settings to make Copilot's access to gameplay more transparent.
