By Matt Underwood Microsoft plunges, Meta rallies as investors demand AI payoffs.
It seems the winds of change are blowing, and not in Microsoft’s favor. Investors are clamoring for returns on their AI investments, but the reality on the ground isn’t quite matching the hype. Windows 11, the vehicle for Microsoft’s AI push, is facing resistance. Users are actively rejecting the “forced” AI integration, and even without the AI aspect, people are hesitant to switch from Windows 10. The company seems to be making changes simply for the sake of it, and those changes aren’t always improvements. Take the new Outlook, for example: a simple right-click for autocorrect is now a left-click, and the application is slower. It’s like they’re trying to fix something that wasn’t broken, all while needlessly shoving AI into every nook and cranny. Many users have noted that Windows 11 feels adversarial, that it’s designed to exert control rather than enhance the user experience.
The situation with Meta is different, it is seeing a rally. The company is benefiting from increased online engagement, fueled by current events, but it’s a double-edged sword. Meta’s AI is being used to create and manipulate media, and the results are often designed to evoke strong emotional responses. While this might boost engagement in the short term, it’s also eroding the brand’s reputation. The question becomes, does destroying the brand matter if there are no real consequences for doing so?
The push for AI payoffs is putting immense pressure on both companies. Investors are demanding immediate returns, but the technology isn’t delivering. The general consensus is that AI, particularly the AI integrated into these platforms, is currently “shit.” The promise of AI replacing workers is not materializing, and the companies are just making their customers more frustrated, with some products being worse than what they are replacing.
There’s a growing sentiment that these companies are losing touch with what users actually want. People are not clamoring for AI. Some of them even are actively switching to alternate operating systems like Linux, a trend Microsoft is watching with concern. These companies are making the same mistakes as cable companies have made in the past. There is no incentive to listen to what consumers want, they just do what they like. The average user is far more upset that the right click menu is different than about all the other stuff people online will complain about. These people aren’t going to switch to Linux or harden their systems, they’re just going to stick with Windows 10 with no security updates for as long as humanly possible and will be just like the “change is scary” people that are still running Windows 7 or even XP solely because “it works” and figuring out a new OS hurts their brains.
Microsoft’s business strategy seems to be failing to take the user experience into account. They are destroying their own brand. Microsoft’s approach is often characterized by arbitrary changes and a seeming disregard for user experience. The company’s Surface tablets demonstrate a lack of attention to detail and user-friendliness. The TPM requirement, which forces users to upgrade their hardware, has been a major misstep, prompting many to consider alternatives.
Meta, on the other hand, is arguably facing a different challenge, it’s seeing a rally. The strategy of using AI to manipulate media and create engaging content, has seemingly paid off, for now. Its long-term impact on the brand is yet to be determined, though. People are using Meta’s platforms more frequently, but is this a sustainable strategy?
The push for AI in both companies is being questioned. The focus is on finding something that people care about, and to that end, they are failing. The gaming market is loosening up and those who do nothing but use the internet and send emails are moving to mobile. Microsoft and Meta are simply changing things for the sake of change, which is the exact business model of public companies.