The intrusion of AI into our daily lives is accelerating, often in ways we scarcely notice—or fully understand. And here's where it gets truly controversial: Some of the latest smart devices are pushing AI features that users cannot remove or bypass, raising serious questions about privacy and control. One recent case involves LG's smart TVs, which now feature an embedded Microsoft Copilot app that most owners find impossible to delete. This development has sparked a wave of frustration and skepticism among consumers.
Multiple LG TV owners took to Reddit and other forums to voice their concerns after discovering that a steady, non-removable Microsoft Copilot app had suddenly appeared on their TV screens following a recent update. This app is integrated directly into the webOS platform—LG’s Linux-based operating system that has been part of their smart TV control since 2013. Users reported that, once the update was installed, the Copilot app would automatically pop up at startup, residing on the home screen alongside traditional streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu. What’s particularly upsetting is that, unlike other apps, this one cannot be uninstalled or hidden, as indicated in the official user manual. LG’s support documentation explicitly states that pre-installed system apps are permanent, and the 'trash bin' option does not appear when attempting to remove them.
Adding fuel to the fire, LG has openly embraced the integration of AI into their products. At CES 2025, the company emphasized its ambitions of positioning its TVs as the ‘AI-enabled’ device of choice. They announced plans to incorporate an AI section into webOS, their smart platform, along with calling their remote an ‘AI Remote’. LG claims that introducing Copilot is meant to help users more efficiently find and organize complex information by leveraging contextual cues—though it remains unclear exactly what complicated data they expect users to manage on their TVs.
And this situation isn't unique to LG. Other tech giants are similarly embedding AI into their devices, sometimes without clear consent or even the option to opt out. For example, Google’s Gemini AI has been integrated into new TCL models, and Samsung has reportedly been adding Perplexity’s AI-powered search engine to their TVs. Samsung has also announced support for Microsoft Copilot, but unlike LG, they seem to avoid making it a permanent fixture on the home screen.
What sets LG apart is their aggressive branding of AI features across their latest models—beyond just the Copilot app. Features named “AI Picture Pro” and “AI Sound Pro” are prominently marketed, and some TVs even include a built-in chatbot—presumably for entertainment or assistance—raising further privacy concerns and questions about how much AI is being integrated into everyday entertainment devices.
Gizmodo reached out to LG for their perspective but had not received a response at the time of publishing. The trending question remains: Should we accept AI features that cannot be opted out of, especially when they view our devices as permanent fixtures? Or does this represent a dangerous overreach by corporations eager to embed AI into our homes?
So, what do you think? Are these invasive AI integrations a step forward in technology, or are they crossing a line into unwelcome surveillance and loss of control? Share your thoughts and opinions below—let’s start a conversation about the future of AI in our living rooms.
