As it continues to invest in the concept of AI computers, Microsoft recently clearly marked its own Copilot as "the number one productivity application on Windows 11" in a new Windows 11 marketing material, even ranking it before File Explorer and Snipping Tool, causing concern and doubts.
In the promotion, Microsoft emphasized that 2026 is the "moment of AI computers" and once again highlighted Recall on Windows 11, AI functions embedded in MS Paint and photo applications, and a series of AI capabilities such as Copilot.
According to Windows Latest's tracking of Microsoft's multi-channel marketing activities in the United States, in this latest material, Microsoft lists nine "best productivity apps" for the Windows 11 platform and gives an "official ranking." Topping the list is Copilot, followed by Microsoft To Do, Windows Calendar, OneNote, Snipping Tool (including screen recording), Clock app (specifically mentioned for focused sessions), Notes, File Explorer, and Microsoft Edge with productivity features.
Microsoft said in its promotional copy that Copilot is an "AI assistant" on Windows 11, which is especially suitable for students and workplace users and can help users think, plan and complete tasks directly on the desktop. Official usage scenarios include: using Copilot to summarize lengthy emails, convert scattered notes into to-do lists, draft messages in multiple applications, etc. For inboxes that are already cluttered with unread emails, Microsoft claims that users can let Copilot automatically extract key information to avoid reading the entire text paragraph by paragraph.
Microsoft also emphasized that Copilot can also transform users' casual notes into clear checklists to help plan personal or work travel arrangements. For example, when planning a family spring break ski trip, just shout "Hey Copilot" on Windows 11, and you can have a conversational communication with this AI companion, who will help draft the itinerary plan.
However, judging from the specific order of this "Best Productivity Applications" ranking, the author believes that for daily users of Windows, this ranking is difficult to take seriously. The report pointed out that putting Copilot first is understandable, but placing the traditionally more critical and more powerful File Explorer at the bottom, and listing the screenshot tool and even the long-standing problem clock application as the "top productivity tools" appear to be quite out of touch with the real user experience. The author even joked that he "wouldn't be surprised that this list itself was compiled by Copilot."
The article specifically named the "Clock" application - this application previously focused on the focus function integrated with Spotify, but the integration had been malfunctioning for a long time, and the problem was not taken seriously until the media exposed it multiple times. Today, it ranks "sixth" on Microsoft's list and is once again packaged as one of the "best productivity" applications.
The ranking of "Best Productivity Applications" is highly subjective, and the number one ranking in the minds of different users may vary. Although it is understandable that for some people, Copilot is indeed expected to become one of the most commonly used tools, but it is still logically reluctant to rank it before File Explorer, Snipping Tool, or even Microsoft To Do, which many people rely heavily on daily.
This is not the first time that Microsoft has made similar "exaggerated" statements about Copilot in its marketing rhetoric. Recently, Microsoft has promoted Copilot+ PCs, claiming that these Windows 11 AI computers are a "plus" in productivity because they are significantly faster than Windows 10 devices from five years ago. In addition, the company also claims that the notepad with AI functions has been "raised to a new level" and plans to continue to add more features, including image support.