Microsoft TOS: Copilot is for 'entertainment purposes only,' not 'important advice'

The company has baked its AI assistant into everything from Word to Windows, but it's apparently only for fun.
 By 
Chance Townsend
 on 
In this photo illustration, a Microsoft Copilot logo is seen displayed on a smartphone with a Microsoft logo in the background
Credit: Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Microsoft has positioned Copilot as a serious tool that can be used as an all-purpose digital assistant, even introducing a new class of laptops: Copilot+ PCs.

But within Microsoft's updated Copilot terms of service — effective October 24, 2025 — is a line that should give pause to anyone using the company's AI assistant for anything more consequential than sorting a list.

The fine print reads: "Copilot is for entertainment purposes only. It can make mistakes, and it may not work as intended. Don't rely on Copilot for important advice. Use Copilot at your own risk."


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The terms go further, noting that Microsoft makes no warranty that Copilot's responses won't infringe on someone else's rights, and that users are "solely responsible" if they choose to publish or share anything the AI produces. The company also reserves the right to limit, suspend, or permanently revoke access to Copilot at any time, without notice, for any reason it sees fit.

To be fair, most major AI companies include similar hedging language in their terms — acknowledging that their models hallucinate, get things wrong, and shouldn't be treated as authoritative sources. But "entertainment purposes only" is a notably stark framing for a product Microsoft has aggressively positioned as a productivity tool and integrated across its entire Office and Windows suite.

The updated terms also added language covering Copilot Actions, Copilot Labs, and shopping experiences — and clarified that when you ask Copilot to take actions on your behalf, you're solely responsible for whatever happens as a result.

So: use it to brainstorm, sure. But think twice before using it as a therapist.

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Chance Townsend
Assistant Editor, General Assignments

Chance Townsend is the General Assignments Editor at Mashable, covering tech, video games, dating apps, digital culture, and whatever else comes his way. He has a Master's in Journalism from the University of North Texas and is a proud orange cat father. His writing has also appeared in PC Mag and Mother Jones.

In his free time, he cooks, loves to sleep, and greatly enjoys Detroit sports. If you have any tips or want to talk shop about the Lions, you can reach out to him on Bluesky @offbrandchance.bsky.social or by email at [email protected].

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