According to Ars Technica, a Reddit user’s post on Saturday sparked a major controversy after a webOS firmware update installed an unremovable Microsoft Copilot shortcut on their LG TV. The thread gained over 36,000 upvotes, with users furious about the forced “crapware.” LG spokesperson Chris De Maria clarified to The Verge that the update didn’t install the full app but a shortcut to the Copilot web app, with features like microphone input requiring explicit consent. Following the backlash, LG has now conceded and says it will provide a way for users to delete the shortcut icon, though no timeline was given. This incident follows Samsung’s similar automatic rollout of Copilot on its 2025 TVs starting in August, accessible via remote microphone and integrated search.
The bigger picture: AI invades the living room
Here’s the thing: the removable icon is just a symptom. The real story is that TV makers are dead-set on weaving AI chatbots directly into their operating systems, whether you want them or not. LG’s move was a clumsy test run for its bigger plan to integrate Copilot into 2025 OLED TVs for “proactively” solving user problems. Samsung is already doing it. Amazon’s exploring it with Alexa+. It’s a full-blown industry push.
And why? That’s the billion-dollar question. Companies like LG say it’s for “customer accessibility and convenience,” but they’ve utterly failed to prove anyone is asking for a chatbot on their television. People buy TVs to watch shows and movies, not to have a conversation with an LLM. This feels like a solution in search of a problem, or more accurately, a new data and engagement channel in search of users.
Why you should be worried
Look, maybe asking your TV “what should I watch?” via AI could be mildly useful. But the downsides are real. First, it adds a massive layer of complexity to your TV’s privacy. You’re not just subject to LG’s or Samsung’s policies anymore. Now you’ve got Microsoft’s or Perplexity’s terms of service in the mix, too. It becomes almost impossible to understand what data is being collected, when, and by whom.
Second, it’s pure bloatware. Smart TVs are already bogged down with unremovable games, shopping apps, and autoplaying ads. Adding another AI agent that runs in the background or pops up unwanted is just more clutter for a device that should be simple. This is about monetizing the software and your attention, not improving your viewing experience. If you’re fed up, now’s a good time to learn how to block smart TV ads and tracking.
A troubling precedent
So LG is backing down on the unremovable icon. Big deal. The precedent is set. They tried to silently push it. Samsung did it. They’ll keep trying to integrate these features deeper into the OS where you can’t avoid them. The backlash this week might make them a bit more cautious, but the trajectory is clear: your TV is becoming another AI endpoint.
For the tech industry, the living room is the next frontier for AI saturation, and they’re willing to force it on users to get there. The real test will be if anyone actually uses it. My guess? That Reddit user’s advice to “burn your television” is overkill, but the frustration is completely justified. Your TV should serve you, not the other way around.
