Elon Musk took to social media on Sunday to express his dissatisfaction with a recently purchased Windows PC laptop, sparking a discussion about user privacy and control.
Musk, known for his outspoken nature, criticised the device’s requirement to create a Microsoft account for basic functionality. He specifically raised concerns about granting access to Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) on his computer, calling it “messed up.”
“Just bought a new PC laptop and it won’t let me use it unless I create a Microsoft account, which also means giving their AI access to my computer! This is messed up,” Musk said in a post on X.“There used to be an option to skip signing into or creating a Microsoft account,” he further said.
Musk’s comments sparked discussions on social media, with some users echoing his concerns about data privacy and potential AI influence. However, others pointed out that creating a Microsoft account is a standard practice for Windows PCs, offering features like cloud storage, app downloads, and system updates.Musk’s post got many people offering him alternate solutions. Interestingly, one was by X’s ‘fact-check’ feature Community Notes. “It is still possible to set-up the latest version of Windows without a Microsoft account,” Community Notes suggest. Musk countered with pointing out that the fact checking tool was indeed wrong. “Community Notes is failing here. This option no longer exists,” Musk said.
Another user suggested that Musk should get in touch with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. To which Musk said that he had texted Nadella about the issue.
Microsoft has yet to officially respond to Musk’s comments. However, the company does offer alternative login options for Windows, including local accounts that operate without requiring a Microsoft account.