Windows 11’s Notepad app is undergoing some changes, and the response from users has been mixed. Recently, Microsoft shared an announcement on its blog detailing new features available for testing by Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels. These enhancements include support for bold and italic text, hyperlinks, lists, and headings, which aim to enrich the user experience.
However, the introduction of AI capabilities has stirred controversy. Notepad now supports streaming responses when utilizing the Write, Rewrite, and Summarize tools, resulting in quicker output. While enhancing speed is typically a positive development, feedback from the online community indicates that many users are resistant to the integration of AI into a traditionally straightforward application.
Notepad backlash
(Image credit: Mauro Huculak)
User feedback has been vocal, with many expressing dissatisfaction over the increasing presence of AI in Notepad. One Reddit user remarked, “Why are they not letting Notepad be the super light and efficient tool that it is? I swear, MS doesn’t even understand their own products, just feature bloat at this point.” Others echoed similar concerns, with one user stating, “I don’t even trust using Notepad anymore. It used to be a super light, simple tool for quick notes, and now it comes baked with AI and a bunch of unnecessary features nobody asked for. At this point, they might as well have everyone use Word instead.”
Some users humorously noted that Microsoft had phased out WordPad only to incorporate its features into Notepad, further fueling the sentiment of feature overload. The growing trend of AI fatigue among tech giants, including Microsoft, reflects a broader frustration within the community, as many feel that AI tools are being introduced in contexts where they are unwarranted.
