Do people actually want this?
Like, I know the megacorps that control our lives do (since it’s a cheap way of adding value to their products), but what about actual users? I think many see it as a novelty and a toy rather than a productivity tool. Especially when public awareness of “hallucinations” and the plight faced by artists rises.
Kinda feels like the whole “voice controlled assistants” bubble that happened a while ago. Sure they are relatively commonplace nowadays, but nowhere near as universal as people thought they would be.
Do people actually want this?
Nope. Just like those stupid hard coded buttons on my Roku remote that I have never used.
I think it’s those stupid hard coded buttons on my remote that I accidentally press every so often then have to repeatedly try and back/exit out of the stupid thing it launched that I cannot remove/uninstall from my tv.
Super glue, or pliers and super glue.
If you can figure out how to get the remote open, you’ll probably find that the buttons are all part of the same flexible rubbery insert (unless it’s 10+ years old). Put a little tape on the bottoms of the ones causing you problems. The insulation should keep them from working, and it’s 100% reversible if you ever do find a use for them.
If it’s one of the older, more expensive remotes with individual switches, then, yeah, pliers and superglue. 😅
And it just needs to load a hasty scribbled overloaded UI that takes forever to load with no content because you don’t have an account and/or are not connected to wifi.
Do people actually want this?
Absolutely not. But this is the new standard now.
The new Micro$oft standard, which, as always, is bullshit and should be avoided and ignored at all times.
Yes. The Microsoft standard. Like the Windows key on all keyboards nowadays.
Maybe I’m a pessimist but this is going to really resonate with the people who are “looking forward to AI” because they read headlines, but haven’t actually used any LLMs yet because nobody has told them how.
I want a voice controlled assistant that runs locally and is fully FOSS and I can just run on my bog standard linux PC, hardware minimum requirements nonwithstanding
Mycroft was the best bet for this before now being continued by open voice OS.
All I want is a real life iteration of J.A.R.V.I.S. and several billion dollars so I can blurt out cool ideas and have them rendered and built in a couple hours.
I’ll be good I promise.
Not a single soul wants this. They just want to use every foul trick to get you to use copilot (by accident even) just like they do with bing and their other garbage.
Another key to bind to something else? Hell yeah
Nope, just a new logo on an existing key.
:(
Current LLMs are manifestly different from Cortana (🤢) because they are actually somewhat intelligent. Microsoft’s copilot can do web search and perform basic tasks on the computer, and because of their exclusive contract with OpenAI they’re gonna have access to more advanced versions of GPT which will be able to do more high level control and automation on the desktop. It will 100% be useful for users to have this available, and I expect even Linux desktops will eventually add local LLM support (once consumer compute and the tech matures). It is not just glorified auto complete, it is actually fairly correlated with outputs of real human language cognition.
The main issue for me is that they get all the data you input and mine it for better models without your explicit consent. This isn’t an area where open source can catch up without significant capital in favor of it, so we have to hope Meta, Mistral and government funded projects give us what we need to have a competitor.
Sure, all that may be true but it doesn’t answer my original concern: Is this something that people want as a core feature of their OS? My comments weren’t that “oh, this is only as technically sophisticated as voice assistants”, it was more “voice assistants never really took off as much as people thought they would”. I may be cynical and grumpy, but to me it feels like these companies are failing to read the market.
I’m reminded of a presentation that I saw where they were showing off fancy AI technology. Basically, if you were in a call 1 to 1 call with someone and had to leave to answer the doorbell or something, the other person could keep speaking and an AI would summarise what they said when they got back.
It felt so out of touch with what people would actually want to do in that situation.
I hope the LLM bubble pops this year. The degree of overinvestment by megacorps is staggering.
I suppose having worked with LLMs a whole bunch over the past year I have a better sense of what I meant by “automate high level tasks”.
I’m talking about an assistant where, let’s say you need to edit a podcast video to add graphics and cut out dead space or mistakes that you corrected in the recording. You could tell the assistant to do that and it would open the video in Adobe Premiere pro, do the necessary tasks, then ask you to review it to check if it made mistakes.
Or if you had an issue with a particular device, e.g. your display, the assistant would research the issue and perform the necessary steps to troubleshoot and fix the issue.
These are currently hypothetical scenarios, but current GPT4 can already perform some of these tasks, and specifically training it to be a desktop assistant and to do more agentic tasks will make this a reality in a few years.
It’s additionally already useful for reading and editing long documents and will only get better on this end. You can already use an LLM to query your documents and give you summaries or use them as instructions/research to aid in performing a task.
I guess my understanding of an LLM must be way off base.
I had thought that asking an LLM to edit a video was simply out of scope. Like asking your self driving car to wash the dishes.
A year ago local LLM was just not there, but the stuff you can run now with 8gb vram is pretty amazing, if not quite as good yet as GPT 4. Honestly even if it stops right where it is, it’s still powerful enough to be a foundation for a more accessible and efficient way to interface with computers.
This is the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever heard of. I’m not buying any keyboard or laptop that has this key. There’s enough Linux-first vendors these days that it’s easy to avoid (Framework, System76, Tuxedo, etc). It’s time to be done with Lenovo and Dell.
This is the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever heard of. I’m not buying any keyboard or laptop that has this key.
Which is exactly what people said about the Windows key.
Now it’s all but impossible to buy a keyboard that doesn’t have it. Worse, most of us use it without thinking.
Sure you can call it Super if you like, and even have a Tux key-cap on it, but there used to be a literal gap between the Alt keys and their Ctrl brethren in the lateral directions away from the space bar, and those days are long gone.
There’ll be the niche users who stick with old keyboards without this new key, just like there are the die-hards who have stuck resolutely to the old IBM keyboards and the like from pre-1995, but if you want a new keyboard?
Gonna have to shell out a small fortune for a custom build or make do with that dumb new key.
(Shoutout to the Context Menu key which went as unmentioned in the above as it goes unused in day to day use, despite having been included with its Super cousin since day one.)
I don’t see an issue with a “super” key. But what would a copilot key bring that’s of any value? The super key already does everything you’d need.
more keys for custom keybinds ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ depending on where it’s located I’ll probably just use it as a microphone toggle
We have so many unused potential binds already, though. Knowing the way tech goes these days, they’ll find a way to hard-code the key to one macro and that’s it lol
Depends how they do it, if it’s in the registry you can change it.
The point is to have an unused button that you can rebind freelyPure hyperbole “late stage capitalism”: they’ll have it wired directly into the board. At best it will cover one key chord.
Even later stage, it’ll send some proprietary data that only windows 11 can interpret. Linux users will figure it out and make use of it, then will be promptly sued out of existence for copyright infringement or something lol.
Can we get this more dystopian? I’m out of ideas.
Nah, they’ll send a package to a Microsoft server that’ll then respond with the keybind and open the program
yeah it’s almost certainly gonna be bound to Super+C, the existing keybind for copilot
Wow when you out it that way it sounds even dumber
Gonna have to shell out a small fortune for a custom build or make do with that dumb new key.
I don’t think this is true. Just buy a laptop from a company that ships it with Linux. No Windows, no Windows keys. It doesn’t have to be ‘custom’.
The post mentioned this, and argues that a super a key is basically just a windows key
So what key are they gonna put there when all cheap generic Chinese keyboard makers start including this button on all their variants of keyboards?
The context menu or right-ctrl key, probably
The article actually says the Copilot key will mostly be replacing Menu or Right Control on existing layouts. So if you’re already not using those (or are already re-binding them), it’s just a new keycap.
iit’s just a new keycap
Plus the configuration that is needed to remap the key back to the correct key code.
As you said, there used to be a gap there. Replacing a gap makes not that much harm and people find it useful even in Linux for keybindings. In more of an Alt kind of guy, but Super is also there for more combinations available.
The Copilot key appears to be going were the right Control or right Alt key are right now, so that’s going to be a bother for a lot of people.
The video made it look like this was the context menu key. This may just be a key cap change for WHQL certification of keyboards.
My keyboard has a Linux key. And I happily use it.
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The context menu key is more useful when it’s remapped to the compose key.
I fully agree with you, but Framework is definitely not Linux-first. The only OS they offer preloaded on their laptops is Windows. You have to install Linux yourself if you want it.
I think they’re referring to Framework’s support for full Linux compatibility for at least Ubuntu, and making sure that the parts they use have first class Linux support and drivers and kernel integration.
Same, I think I might give the System76 Darter a try when I eventually have to replace my Xps 9370. It’s bad enough that my computer comes with a windows logo on the super-key and often windows preinstalled. Shipping with a non-ANSI/ISO layout is a no-buy for me.
Unfortunately, the “linux-first” vendors do not offer better deals than their competition.
It depends on how and what you’re measuring. A lot of Linux first, like system 76 and purism, do so e serious work on the firmware and boot systems of their systems. Which for some is a huge value add compared.
They absolutely do, when one considers the negative value of Windows.
Ah yes, just like you had that option with the windows key right?
Like with the Windows key, this won’t be an option.
I don’t care as long as the placement is ok and I can map it to something useful. I’m a GNOME user so the Windows/Super key gets a lot of use. It’s nice to have. A new key that I use for all my custom shortcuts would actually be kind of nice. Who cares that the default key caps are a Windows icon and this Copilot thing? Change the key caps and they are just keys.
This is Clippy v2.0 and I’m sure it will be just as helpful.
They’ve learned from their mistakes, and concluded that Clippy failed because there was no Clippy key.
at least clippy, for all his faults, had the good sense to be a cute cartoon paperclip.
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Oh “great”, more crap between Ctrl and Alt.
[Grumpy grandpa] In my times, the space row only had five keys! And we did more than those youngsters do with eight, now nine keys!
In my time it was also nine. Back to the roots. ;->
Why doesn’t my keyboard have a thumbs-up key?!
Nice
From the picture, it’s just the context menu key with a new key cap.
That’s still a new key for some people. My laptop doesn’t have a context key, for example.
Aaaaah. I really, really wanted to complain about the excessive amount of keys.
(My comment above is partially a joke - don’t take it too seriously. Even if a new key was added it would be a bit more clutter, but not that big of a deal.)
So you can pressed accidentally activating the fucking AI and make the numbers go up so Microsoft can then go and say to investors look millions are using my AI. So annoying.
That’s funny, because getting an ad for Copilot inside my startmenu was actually what made me go back to Linux after 10 years.
This tracks.
Why? Win+C launches Copilot already, if you want to use it. It’s simple enough currently, why change it? This will just make everything worse.
Why? Investment hype
Bingo
Awesome Keyboard with AI Support *
* On supported Operating Systems **
** With separate subscription.
I can’t wait to no longer find a keyboard without this key.
Welcome to the custom mechanical keyboard scene.
I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to find keyboards with a different icon that the ugly copilot, and then you can map it to whatever you want.
You can always use those keyboards from the 2000’s
because most people are unaware of keybindings and when they inevitable tap on the new dedicated key they’ll probably be shown a subscription screen for Copilot Premium or whatever they call it.
IMO it’s a very disgusting and intrusive way of fishing subscriptions to the AI thing they’ve invested so much money on.
Like the shitty bixby button on phones.
In the five years of owning this phone, I have never once pressed that button on purpose. I press it on accident at least once a week.
5 years… do you have the S9? cause im exactly the same, never intentionally used it. ever.
I have the s10+ and it’s actually useful, as you can remap the double click on that button to open any app you like. But yeah single click, never happened intentionally.
EDIT: F yeah, I just checked the settings and you can decide if you want bixby activation on single or double-click. Now I’ve set bixby to double click and on single-click it opens my password manager. If you don’t select anything, it will do nothing on a single click.
The setting is under “Advanced Features” -> “Bixby Key” for me.
This requires logging in to bixby for me.
lol yep, S9.
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Using it til it dies. Love this phone.
Really milking that fad before they inevitably push anything useful behind a monthly paywall.
As long as the ability to manually turn off secureboot and remove the OS isn’t locked behind a subscription…
It’s already behind a paywall. You can’t access ChatGPT-4 without paying.
and yet they are still loosing money by running ChayGPT 3.5 for free. I guess that in the future they’ll switch to a local small model in the hardware that is capable enough.
I think it’s like anything on the modern web, they’ll lose money until they reach a critical mass of users who get accustomed to using ChatGPT in their day-to-day life, and then they’ll kill the free tier.
Except their free tier is still around for everything that they started as free. Outlook, bing, Visual Studio Code, even office is free for students and teachers.
They’ll always keep the low tier free to get people hooked and charge businesses whatever.
Microsoft has free tier Office tools because they’re data brokers now. TMK they didn’t always have free Outlook, it was bundled in Office, which cost money. I don’t see ChatGPT remaining free forever, it costs too much to run. I could be wrong though, depending on how much valuable data they can scrape from it.
Yeah they didn’t gave a free Office, Outlook or Visual studio. Now they do and there is no sign of them stopping it. Bing is expensive and they aren’t stopping it.
Chatgpt is MS’s first real chance of dethroning Google search. They’re going to keep a free tier forever.
Can’t wait to see this gone in the next 3 years.
"Oh yeah I remember these keyboards! Good times, that was before the
before the what, op?
BEFORE THE WHAT??
sweats, knowing a time-traveler in our midst refused to tell us about the coming copilocalypse
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Alas, often, no. Just another logo we can’t be rid of.
In some cases, the Copilot key will replace the Menu key or the right Control key, a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC in an email. Some larger computers will have enough room for both the Copilot key and the right Control key, the spokesperson said.
That’s impressively awful
I guess I can just buy a sticker and remap the AI key to do ctrl instead lol
Hmm, maybe I can use it for the Compose key instead or Right Alt…
Compose has always been Capslock for me
as an i3wm user, I approve 😁
Lol, the first thing that went through my mind was “what feature can I add to i3 with this key?”
unfortunately it would probably just replace the context menu key. which I’ve already set it to keyboard layout switch. 😁 it’s the best keybind I have. way faster than mod+space or alt+shift 😅
Linux laptops usually come with a super key.
What the fuck is a labtop?
Its the same thing as a laptop. Labtops are laptops used in a lab. (Or maybe I just made a typo, who knows)
I am getting flashbacks to the multimedia keyboards on yesteryear:
https://deskthority.net/wiki/Multimedia_keyboard
Thanks MS, but no thanks, I don’t need it.
I love these, it has actual useful keys
I will admit that the volume wheel was awesome
yeah, the media controls are actually useful.
For real though, I loved those. That wireless Logitech one with the volume dial lasted me a decade.
My mom had one, I absolutely loved using that thing when I did
this kind of shit is what gives AI a bad rep
no one needs this
almost no one wants it
and they’ll kill it in a couple of years like they did it with Cortana
They killed Cortana?
Thankfully, yes. But cortana has been replaced by copilot so we are in the same place
Tbh I was kinda sad they killed her off instead of trying to make her an actually useful AI assistant. Seemed like a missed opportunity since her Halo counterpart is an AI as well, and it would’ve been cool to maybe have an AR partner app that would have shown pre-Halo 4 version of her.
I won’t be happy until we have a hologram cortana
with 6 etheral arms and an always-smiling maw full of 4" long interlocking teeth
I bet your search history is interesting
Copilot is just Cortana on steroids (with a shiny new AI engine baked in)
how the fuck can they just decide this
Probably through licensing agreements with PC retailers.
But you can also just decide not to buy them.
can i decide to buy a keyboard without the windows key today?
There’s always the IBM Model M or, if you prefer USB, there are remakes with it.
Wow it’s yuuge
sure, any Apple keyboard
Umm, it’s just a keycap. You can map the key to whatever you want.
agreed, however it defeats the point that its going to be optional if they really decide to do it.
Microsoft is a monopoly. Stallman was right, as usual in software
stallman is still right
Please don’t.
Wonder if it will be CTRL + SHIFT + ALT + WIN + C
Also known as fist+c
Now I’m wondering, with which fingers would you press all those buttons? The most comfortable way to press these keys with 1 hand is to rotate the keyboard 180 degrees
They don’t intend for you to, it’s just easier to make a giant button combo that their generic HID driver handles as a special case than to create a custom keyboard protocol with their special key enums and a custom driver that only windows supports.
