The mustache question

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We’ve been having something of a debate around here regarding the use of AI. Susan, as you well know from her numerous posts and columns about it, war
[See the full post at: The mustache question]

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SueW, Pepsiboy, TechTango

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I’m still a fan of AI on my own terms.  Here’s perplexity’s take along with sources.

 

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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L95, SueW, Pepsiboy, Myst, TechTango

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Susan Bradley wrote:

Here’s perplexity’s take along with sources

I’m frequent user of Perplexity but not subscriber, yet. There are times when it’s the only one nail the correct answer fast.

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Appears DuckDuckGo does just as good a job as AI.

HTH, Dana:))

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Maybe for that example but ask DuckDuckGo; “If I’m using wumgr do I need InControl?” and compare that to the answer Copilot gives.

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Per perplexity.ai

“WuMgr (Windows Update Manager) and InControl are separate tools with similar functionalities for managing Windows updates. If you’re already using WuMgr effectively, you likely don’t need InControl15. WuMgr provides comprehensive control over Windows updates, allowing you to selectively install, hide, or uninstall updates, as well as manage auto-update settings26. It offers functionality similar to the update management in Windows 7 and 8.1, giving you fine-grained control over the update process in Windows 109. Since WuMgr already provides these features, using InControl in addition would be redundant for most users.”

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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L95, Alex5723

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Since Co-pilot answered the question and Bing didn’t, my view is that Co-pilot did a better job. Co-pilot always seems to add a follow-up question to its answer. Perhaps that’s just a way of churning out more activity for Co-pilot.

I have been testing Le Chat AI, an AI query service from Mistral AI, a French company. https://chat.mistral.ai/chat I asked it these four questions and received what I think are clear, accurate, and comprehensive answers:

Which islands did columbus visit on his second voyage to the new world?
Which islands did columbus visit on his third voyage to the new world?
What are the main canary islands?
Who was Henry Watterson?

As for the mustachioed President question, here is Le Chat’s response (again, in my view, a clear and accurate reply):

The last U.S. President to have a mustache was William Howard Taft. He served as the 27th President of the United States from 1909 to 1913. Taft was known for his distinctive facial hair, which included a mustache. After Taft, no subsequent U.S. President has worn a mustache while in office.

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Alex5723

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Paul wrote:

I have been testing Le Chat AI

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/mistral-releases-its-ai-assistant-on-ios-and-android/

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The last US President to have a beard?

“AI Overview
Benjamin Harrison was the last US president to have a full beard, serving from 1889 to 1893. William Howard Taft was *the last president to have any facial hair, serving from 1909 to 1913.”

And BTW, Taft also braided his mustache on occasion.

Same AI source – Re Harry S Truman, “Harry S. Truman shaved his mustache after growing it out briefly during a vacation in 1948”
*So I guess Truman’s brief stint with shaving his mustache doesn’t count in the record books as having any facial hair.

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Cybertooth

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This would make for a nasty trick question on trivia games!

“Taft.”

“No, it was Truman! He grew a mustache once while on vacation but then shaved it off.”

 

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Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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Myst

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Susan Bradley wrote:

Since WuMgr already provides these features, using InControl in addition would be redundant for most users.”

Not accurate.

Exp. If you are on Windows 10 22H2 and want to block Windows 11 you need TRV (pro) or InControl.
WUmgr won’t stop presenting users with Windows 11 upgrades, which should be hidden.

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L95

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I am staying on Windows 10 22H2 for now and have been using WuMgr along with Susan’s Master Patch List for recommendations.  I recently added InControl after reading the warning about Windows 11 installing automatically.

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Robert wrote:

“If I’m using wumgr do I need InControl?” and compare that to the answer Copilot gives.

Personally, that is exactly the type of question I don’t want AI answering for me.

I have never taken what someone I don’t know says as 100% fact.  I always check things out for myself.  AI is just another person I don’t know.  Since a search engine provides me with enough resources to collect information that I need to decide for myself, I don’t really see a need to use AI and especially with the resources AI uses.  Deciding for yourself is the only true freedom a person has and now it seems people want to give up that freedom and have AI decide things for them.  Sorry, I don’t want on that boat.

HTH, Dana:))

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Myst, Charlie, SueW, NaNoNyMouse, Alex5723, Cybertooth, Mothy

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Using DuckDuckGo’s Chat button and selecting Llama 3.3 70B, I get these:

Who was the last president to have a mustache?

Llama 3.3 70B The last president to have a mustache was William Howard Taft. He served as the 27th President of the United States from 1909 to 1913.

If I’m using wumgr do I need InControl?

Llama 3.3 70B Wumgr and InControl are related to the management of Windows Update for Business (WUfB) and other update management tasks.

Wumgr is a tool used to manage and automate Windows updates, while InControl is a more comprehensive solution that provides additional features for managing and monitoring updates, as well as other system tasks.

If you’re using Wumgr, you might not necessarily need InControl, as Wumgr can handle basic update management tasks on its own. However, InControl can provide more advanced features and a more user-friendly interface, which might be beneficial depending on your specific needs and environment.

It ultimately depends on your specific requirements and the level of control and management you need over your Windows updates and other system tasks.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

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I decided a while ago not to use any AI as it’s mostly garbage in/garbage out, so I do not trust the results. Instead, I would rather do my own research using multiple sources to confirm the information is correct.

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I understand that AI is here. I’m not struggling with that other than I think it’s early going. I can’t tell you how often I’ve given a thumbs down to Google’s AI answers because they’re old, not what I asked, or just plain wrong.

What I struggle with is the aggressive way Microsoft is shoving Copilot at me within MS 365 when I don’t feel the need to use it.  It’s not a matter of which AI is better, it’s a matter of do I want or need it at all?

So far I don’t.  I don’t want help writing.  I don’t need Copilot selecting a random word in OneNote that it thinks I might want information about, when all I want is to add a quick edit. It’s distracting and gets in my way. If nothing else, I have to click away from the word it chose before I can type.  (And of course ponder why it chose that word.)

I’d like to be able to choose when and if I use Copilot without it constantly hovering, trying to remind me to use it.

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Cybertooth

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kdock wrote:

What I struggle with is the aggressive way Microsoft is shoving Copilot at me within MS 365 when I don’t feel the need to use it.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Thanks bbearen, how wonderful it would be if this actually worked!

Unfortunately, there are entries in my settings for Microsoft 365 Copilot.

I do think MSFT is flailing over Copilot, trying to find a way to insert it in an acceptable form. Apparently, they have offered some users your options.

I was able to use the switch in Word Options to turn it off, but no such options exist to turn it off elsewhere without heroic and mostly futile activity.

I guess it will settle down eventually. In the meantime I have made my displeasure known multiple times via feedback. For what that’s worth.

My H&F subscription is up for renewal and I went through a “downgrading” process of purchasing Microsoft 365 without AI (I have no hope that this will actually work and assume I will be inundated with various notices to “upgrade”), but in the meantime I will be mumbling to myself and drinking wine for lunch.

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Just a BTW bbearen,

I’m using a Microsoft account to log into my laptop. I notice you’re using a local account.

Not to cruelly raise my hopes only to find it won’t work, but do you suppose that if I logged in with a local account there would be a difference in Settings?

 

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Are you using Win10 or Win11?
The Settings App the @bbearren is showing is Win11. Win10 Settings App looks different.

 

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Windows 11, 23H2.  I should have said.  Very fluid situation there.  Thanks!

*******

Late breaking development is that on my other Win 11 23H2 laptop, I do see the Microsoft 365 Copilot entry. And I use a local account on that laptop.  Hmmm.

I wonder if I turned it off then logged in with Microsoft account it would be turned back on again?  Not sure I’ve yet had enough wine to try that.

 

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Cybertooth

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And yet, after finding and changing those settings, and restarting, OneNote still displays the Copilot icon, ready to summarize my page.

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