Microsoft Windows chief Pavan Davuluri has openly shared the tech giant’s ambitious vision for the future of its operating system. He has previously articulated that the forthcoming version of Windows will leverage artificial intelligence to provide users with a more “multi-modal” experience. As the annual Ignite conference approaches, Davuluri has reiterated his enthusiasm for an AI-enhanced Windows, although the reception from users has been less than favorable.
In a recent post on X, Davuluri described Windows as “evolving into an agentic OS, connecting devices, cloud, and AI to unlock intelligent productivity and secure work anywhere.” This statement, laden with buzzwords, sparked a wave of criticism from users who expressed their discontent, with many asserting, “no one wants this.” Others voiced concerns about Microsoft’s focus on integrating AI features rather than prioritizing improvements in functionality, reliability, and performance.
Software engineer Gergely Orosz, known for his insights in the Pragmatic Engineer newsletter, responded pointedly to Davuluri’s tweet. He suggested that Microsoft’s push towards automation might alienate developers who rely on the OS. “Can’t see any reason for software engineers to choose Windows with this weird direction they are doubling down on,” he remarked. Orosz further noted the irony, stating, “Microsoft has building dev tools in their DNA…their OS doesn’t look like anything a builder who wants OS control would choose.”
In light of the backlash, Davuluri acknowledged the criticisms in a reply to Orosz, indicating that he had taken note of user concerns regarding reliability, performance, and ease of use. He emphasized that the company “cares deeply about developers” and recognized that there is still “work to do on the experience” for both developers and “power users.” However, specifics on how Microsoft intends to tackle these issues were not disclosed in his response.
What on earth is an agentic OS?
The term “agentic OS” may seem nebulous, yet it carries significant implications in the context of Microsoft’s vision. For instance, Salesforce has effectively integrated its agentic AI platform, Agentforce, across its offerings, demonstrating a clear application of the concept. At Dreamforce 2025, Salesforce unveiled substantial enhancements to Slack, enabling users to manage Salesforce agents more intuitively through the collaboration platform.
Unlike the vague terminology surrounding Windows, Salesforce’s approach provides a concrete understanding of how an agentic OS can function. Users are encouraged to view the platform as a natural language creator and scheduler for AI agents, a search engine for enterprise data, and a tool enriched with built-in chat summarization powered by AI agents.
In contrast, Microsoft’s intentions for Windows remain less defined. Despite the increasing integration of AI features, there is a lack of clarity regarding how the operating system as a whole will facilitate the creation, augmentation, or deployment of AI agents. As excitement around AI continues to build, it is crucial for developers to communicate their visions with precision. Ambiguous jargon risks being perceived as mere marketing fluff, potentially undermining the credibility of emerging AI technologies before they even reach the market.
