
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announces removal of AI assistant Copilot from Xbox mobile app and consoles, citing misalignment with Xbox's new direction focused on community connection and friction reduction.
AI-generated summary
Microsoft announced plans to start stripping Copilot out of select Windows apps in March after criticism of the company's mishandling of its operating system reached a fever pitch. As it turns out though, Windows isn't the only place where you'll see less Copilot: Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has announced that the AI assistant will also be removed from the gaming brand's mobile app and Xbox consoles. Under previous Xbox leadership, Copilot was introduced as a sort of in-game assistant that would be aware of what you're playing and able to offer contextual advice based on what's on your screen. Microsoft launched a beta version of the experience by adding Copilot to the Xbox mobile app in May 2025, but based on a GDC presentation the company gave in March, the plan was to also bring Copilot to Xbox consoles later this year. Those plans apparently "don't align" with where Xbox is headed, Sharma said in a post announcing new hires to the Xbox division. "Xbox needs to move faster, deepen our connection with the community, and address friction for both players and developers," Sharma said. "Today, we promoted leaders who helped build Xbox, while also bringing in new voices to help push us forward. This balance is important as we get the business back on track. As part of this shift, you'll see us begin to retire features that don't align with where we're headed. We will begin winding down Copilot on mobile and will stop development of Copilot on console." Before she was tapped to lead Xbox, Sharma was the President of Microsoft's CoreAI division, and several of her new hires are coming from her former team, CNBC reports. That includes Jared Palmer, CoreAI's vice president of product, who's joining Xbox to work on engineering and infrastructure; Tim Allen, CoreAI's vice president of design and research, who'll now lead design at Xbox; and Evan Chaki, a general manager at CoreAI who'll be in charge of a team of engineers tasked with simplifying development.
Las Vegas introduces AI-driven lighting system at First Street and Ogden Avenue to improve pedestrian visibility for drivers, with plans for 16 intersections around Fremont Street, funded by a $1.4M Federal Highway Administration grant.

A roundup of tech and science developments including NASA's cancellation of the Swift telescope rescue, Tesla's massive recall in China, Meta's ongoing legal challenges regarding child safety, and the rise of Inner Mongolia as an AI data center hub.

A humanoid robot named Lightning, developed by Honor, completed a 100-metre sprint in 9.32 seconds, beating Usain Bolt's 9.58-second human world record. The feat occurred during preparations for the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.

WIRED reports on Flock Safety's AI tools, OpenAI's safety overhaul, and vulnerabilities allowing 'zombified' expired Visa cards to be used for fraud. Additionally, Apple issued record spyware warnings, and Ukraine targeted Russian retailer Wildberries with cyber and drone attacks.

Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, is rapidly becoming a major AI data center hub due to low energy costs and cold climate. While companies like DeepSeek and ByteDance invest heavily, the region faces significant water scarcity and ongoing reliance on coal power.

Award-winning Hollywood writers and directors are taking gig jobs paying $12 to $200 an hour to train AI models, seeking income amid a severe industry job slump despite concerns they are helping automate their own professions.