Windows 11 is testing a revamped built-in internet speed test that Microsoft says was developed rapidly with the help of agentic artificial intelligence and human supervision.
Marcus Ash, Microsoft’s vice president of Windows Design and Research, said on X that the team responded to feedback requesting improvements and produced a working prototype within a day. Diego Baca, vice president of Design for Windows, was involved in that early work.
According to Ash, Microsoft’s connectivity team then worked with partners to bring the experience into Windows. The design and development process was driven by an agentic AI workflow, with a person guiding the work in their spare time. Ash described the project as an example of how AI could help move ideas to users more quickly, while avoiding what Microsoft calls “AI slop.”
The approach has nevertheless prompted criticism. The article notes that the central issue is not simply whether AI contributed code, but how it was used. A human-led process in which an AI agent handles repetitive coding tasks and its output is carefully reviewed is different from deploying AI-generated code with minimal checking.
Microsoft’s claims also face scepticism because of existing concerns about the quality of Windows 11 updates. The article points to recurring and sometimes serious bugs, particularly since the 24H2 update, as a reason some users may question whether Microsoft’s AI-assisted development is receiving enough testing and oversight.
Another concern involves employment. The speed test was reportedly implemented largely by an AI agent, including aspects of its design, while the engineer guided the process in their spare time. That description has intensified worries that agentic AI could reduce the amount of work available to software developers.
The article argues that promoting AI’s efficiency may be especially sensitive while Microsoft is carrying out job cuts and encouraging voluntary redundancies. At the same time, it acknowledges that Microsoft has been relatively open about the technology’s role and suggests that AI will play an increasingly important part in the future development of Windows 11.
Sources: TechRadar.