Microsoft is trying out another new tactic to stop people from switching to Google products -- and it's even dodgier than the last one.

Both Microsoft and Google are now including AI in some of their most popular productivity software. But prices are going up at the same time.

Google rules the search engine and browser markets, and Microsoft doesn’t want Google to dominate the two most important industries. Previously, Windows Latest reported how Microsoft uses full-screen pop-ups to convince you to use Microsoft Edge over Chrome and other browsers.

Microsoft has suddenly backtracked after being caught “ tricking ” users, with a homepage designed to look and feel like Google’s own when Windows users searched for Google itself. The head of Chrome accused the Windows-maker of a “new year, new low,” criticizing its “long history of tricks to confuse users and limit choice.”

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Microsoft has a habit of using a variety of tricks to convince people to keep using the defaults of Bing and Microsoft Edge in Windows, including modifying Chrome download sites and using malware-like popups to get people to ditch Google. Microsoft has even previously had to reverse pop-up ads inside Google Chrome to address “unintended behavior.”

Republished on January 22 with a new warning about the Generative AI tools now coming as standard from Google, Microsoft and others, and critical mitigation, as well as new security advice for those running Microsoft’s email platforms, including confirmation on end-of-support dates this year.

As noticed by Windows Latest, searches for Chrome using Edge and via Bing (when signed out of your Microsoft account) on Windows 11 result in a

The changes are part of an effort on the companies’ part to boost the adoption of their AI tools among business users. Microsoft ships an AI assistant called Copilot as part of its Microsoft 365 productivity suite. Google, in turn, offers the Gemini machine learning feature bundle to users of its rival Workspace suite.

If you ever wondered what a strong mix of desperation and silliness would look like, look no further. Microsoft has implemented an update that obscures

It looks like software giant Microsoft is up to some not-so-productive behavior after being accused of tricking searchers on Bing.

Microsoft 365 is getting a $3-per-month price increase for Copilot AI tools. Existing subscribers can opt out by jumping through hoops, but only for a limited time.