Windows Weekly 961

Can the AI boom survive its own hype? This episode takes on the future of OpenAI, tech’s subscription fatigue, and why “Made with AI” labels might be the new scarlet letter. Plus, Microsoft’s ugly sweaters are back for some reason.

Windows 11

• Week D comes a week late and in the wrong month, but it’s a big one, and a preview of what to expect next week in Patch Tuesday
• More pervasive dark mode
• Copilot+ PC exclusives: Improvements to Click to Do, Windows Search, Windows Studio Effects, Agent in Settings
• Expansion of FSE availability
• Improvements across Settings, Share, File Explorer, Desktop Spotlight, more
• Aluminium OS is the name of the ChromeOS/Android Frankenstein that will take on Windows
• Android 16 QPR2 is here with about 1,000 new features and maybe a saner approach to OS updating than what we see on Windows

AI

• AI slop is no enshittification: Human error is still a much bigger issue
• Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney is right: The “Made with AI” label is silly and needs to go
• OpenAI declares a “code red” after Google finally figured out AI
• Opera quietly does an about-face on AI in its browsers
• Opera Neon gets one-minute deep research, Gemini 3, and Nano Banana

Xbox and gaming

• Mortal Kombat 1, more coming to Game Pass in first half of December
• Valve is quietly bringing SteamOS, Windows games to Arm

Tips & picks

• Tip of the week: Time to cull
• Tip of the week #2: Time to look back
• RunAs Radio this week: The M365 Copilot Data Readiness Checklist with Nikki Chapple
• Brown liquor pick of the week: Stumbras Starka

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Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com

The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin.

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• Transcripts: Windows Weekly 961 Transcript

Links

• Google’s Aluminium OS to Bring Android to the PC
• Microsoft Finally Releases the November Week D Preview Update for Windows 11
• From the Editor’s Desk: Slop ⭐
• From the Editor’s Desk: No Synthesizers! ⭐
• Report: OpenAI Declares ‘Code Red’ Alert in Face of Increasing Google Gemini Threat
• Opera Partners with Google on AI
• Opera Neon Get One-Minute Deep Research, Gemini 3 Pro, Nano Banana Pro, and More
• Mortal Kombat 1 Headlines December’s New Game Pass Additions
• Valve is Bringing SteamOS, Windows Games to Arm
• Online Accounts 2025: Saying No to Renting Software ⭐
• From the Editor’s Desk: Silos in the Stream, That is What We Are ⭐
• Microsoft’s ugly sweaters
• YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, More Launch Yearly Recaps
• Spotify Wrapped 2025 is Out With New Interactive Features
• The M365 Copilot Data Readiness Checklist with Nikki Chapple
• Stumbras Starka