Microsoft‘s obsession with its AI assistant Copilot is growing stronger by the day, and the company is now making bold moves to solidify its presence in Windows – even at the expense of more traditional features.

In a recent update to Windows 11, Microsoft has made a significant change that highlights its prioritization of Copilot over other core system functionalities. Specifically, the company has remapped the swipe gesture that was previously used to access the notification center on tablets, repurposing it to launch Copilot instead.

As first spotted by Windows Central‘s Zac Bowden on X/Twitter, Microsoft has altered the shortcut that was previously used for opening the notification center in Windows 11. On tablets, users were once able to swipe in from the right edge of the screen to view their notifications, but as of build 26100, this gesture now summons Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant.

This change is not merely a temporary experiment, either. According to Microsoft’s Brandon LeBlanc, the new gesture mapping is already live for users on Windows 11 version 23H2, provided they have installed the latest updates. This suggests that the company is committed to this shift, at least for the time being.

The decision to replace the notification center’s shortcut with Copilot raises questions about Microsoft’s assessment of the relative importance of these two features. On smartphones, notifications are undoubtedly a crucial component, keeping users informed about incoming messages, app updates, and other time-sensitive information. However, on desktop PCs, some users may find notifications intrusive or less essential.

That said, the notification center in Windows 11 also displays upcoming calendar events, making it a valuable tool for staying organized and aware of one’s schedule. While users can still access their notifications by tapping the bottom right corner of the taskbar – as they would on a traditional PC – this method is arguably less intuitive for touch users.

Microsoft’s aggressive push for Copilot comes as no surprise, given the company’s substantial investment in the AI assistant. Copilot has been steadily gaining new capabilities and functionalities over time, with the recent introduction of Copilot Pro marking a significant milestone in its evolution.

By positioning Copilot as a premium offering, Microsoft aims to monetize the AI assistant and potentially create a new revenue stream. The company’s ambition is clear: to make Copilot an indispensable part of the Windows experience, something that users will want to use constantly and, ideally, be willing to pay for.

While the change in gesture functionality may seem like a small adjustment, it could have a notable impact on the user experience for those who rely on Windows tablets. However, given the relatively low market share of Windows tablets compared to traditional laptops and desktops, it is unlikely that a significant number of users will be affected by this change.

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Nonetheless, the decision to prioritize Copilot over the notification center serves as a testament to Microsoft’s unwavering commitment to its AI assistant and its belief in Copilot’s value proposition.