LG TV owners were not happy about the AI app showing up unannounced as a permanent fixture on their homescreens.
UPDATE: LG realized that not everyone wants to access Microsoft Copilot through its smart TVs, and promises to “take steps to allow users to delete the shortcut icon if they wish.”
The chatbot app appeared in the home screen menu over the weekend, causing backlash from users who took it as an example of AI technologies being forced upon them, and raising questions about privacy and data collection.
LG insists the icon is a shortcut “to enhance customer accessibility and convenience.” When you open it, it brings up Microsoft’s website through the TV’s web browser. “Features such as microphone input are activated only with the customer’s explicit consent,” LG says.
Original Story (12/15):
Microsoft’s Copilot app is now appearing on LG TVs after a recent software update, and some say it’s another example of the tech industry forcing AI on consumers who don’t want it.
The app is not deletable, according to one LG TV owner on Reddit. “When something is pushed this hard it begins to grate,” writes a commenter.
LG and Samsung both announced their Copilot integrations in January at CES 2025, when LG highlighted it as a new perk of its latest OLED evo TVs.
LG didn’t announce the app’s arrival, and did not respond to our request for comment. The icon appears pinned to the home screen on the Reddit post. It acts as a shortcut to a web-based Copilot interface, not the native application LG initially promised, according to Tom’s Hardware.
Samsung installed the Microsoft Copilot app in late August on its 2025 smart TV lineup. You can talk to it through the mic button on the remote, asking for things like show recaps, content recommendations, and trivia, such as, “Who was the voice actor for that character?” This could be a helpful addition to the viewing experience, provided it works as intended.
However, the rub is not what the app can do; it’s that it’s not removable unless you disconnect the TV from the internet, which could disable some features and prevent future updates.
