According to Mashable, LG has pushed a software update to its smart TVs that forcibly installs Microsoft Copilot as a default application. Users on Reddit’s r/mildlyinfuriating forum, in a post with over 36,000 upvotes, began complaining that the AI chatbot was added without their consent. Tech sites like Tom’s Hardware and Endadget confirmed the reports, noting that the Copilot app is not removable from the WebOS system. At best, owners can only hide the icon from their home screen. This action represents a significant shift in how TV manufacturers are treating the software on devices users already own.
TV Ownership Is Changing
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just about a dumb app icon. It’s about the very idea of ownership. You buy a TV, you think it’s yours. But with these forced, non-removable updates, it feels more like you’re just leasing the hardware from a company that can change the terms at any time. Your living room screen is becoming another platform for corporate partnerships, whether you like it or not. And you clearly don’t have a say. This is a trend we’ve seen in smartphones for years, but seeing it hit the big screen in your den somehow feels more intrusive.
Why Even Put It There?
So, why? Why does your TV need an AI chatbot? I don’t have a great answer, and that’s part of the problem. It seems like a solution in search of a problem, or more likely, a land grab for AI real estate. Microsoft wants Copilot everywhere, and LG is a willing partner. Maybe the vision is voice-controlled movie searches or smart home integration, but forcing it is the worst possible way to introduce the feature. It breeds instant resentment. Now, even if Copilot on a TV was a genius idea, nobody wants to try it because it was shoved down their throats.
A Bad Precedent For Everything
This sets a terrible precedent. If TV makers can force-install unremovable software, what’s next? What other partnerships will be hardwired into your device after you buy it? It blurs the line between a product you control and a service you merely access. For industries that rely on user trust and control over their hardware environments—like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs where software stability and user autonomy are critical—this kind of forced update model is an absolute non-starter. But in the consumer world, we seem to be losing that battle, one annoying update at a time.
What Can You Do?
Not much, frankly. You can hide the icon. You can complain online, which clearly many have. But the real power move is voting with your wallet. The problem is, will other brands be any different? This might just be the new normal. Your TV isn’t just a display anymore; it’s an ad-supported, partner-driven platform that lives in your house. And that’s a much harder thing to delete than an app.
