<p>On Windows 10 and 11, Microsoft has resumed displaying pop-up advertisements on Google’s Chrome browser. The Verge reports that pop-ups that appear on top of other windows and applications advertise Microsoft’s Bing search engine and AI-powered chatbot. They exhort consumers to make Bing their default search engine. Some users have likened these pop-ups to malicious software, however.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-518230″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/theindiaprint.com-microsofts-invasive-pop-up-advertisements-force-chrome-users-to-utilise-bing-ai-10.png” alt=”theindiaprint.com microsofts invasive pop up advertisements force chrome users to utilise bing ai 10″ width=”1202″ height=”676″ title=”Microsoft's invasive pop-up advertisements force Chrome users to utilise Bing AI 9″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/theindiaprint.com-microsofts-invasive-pop-up-advertisements-force-chrome-users-to-utilise-bing-ai-10.png 400w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/theindiaprint.com-microsofts-invasive-pop-up-advertisements-force-chrome-users-to-utilise-bing-ai-10-390×220.png 390w” sizes=”(max-width: 1202px) 100vw, 1202px” /></p>
<p>In an official statement to The Verge, Microsoft’s director of communications, Caitlin Roulston, said, “This is a one-time notification giving people the choice to set Bing as their default search engine on Chrome.” She also said that customers would have access to their conversation history and more chat turns in Copilot if they switched and signed in with their Microsoft account.</p>
<p>The pop-up advertisement says, rather bluntly, “Chat with GPT-4 on Chrome for free! Receive hundreds of conversation turns every day from Bing Al.” When users choose “Yes,” Bing is set as the default search engine, and the “Bing Search” Chrome extension is loaded. But Chrome shows a pop-up of its own, alerting users to the activities of the extension and requesting confirmation before making the change.<br />
Microsoft has come under fire for heavily endorsing Bing and Edge via a variety of channels, such as taskbar alerts, pop-up windows, and full-screen notifications after Windows upgrades. Microsoft had to address a problem earlier this year when Edge imported tabs and browser history from Chrome automatically and without user permission.<br />
The most recent pop-up advertisement is tied to server-side programmes like _BCILauncher.EXE_ or _BingChatInstaller.EXE_, which was introduced to certain Windows PCs on March 13. It is not a component of a Windows update. Regretfully, consumers cannot simply stop the advertisement from showing.<br />
Even though Microsoft says it values user choice, those who would rather remain with their preferred browser and search engine have taken issue with the company’s aggressive and relentless promotional strategies. These pop-ups are bothersome to many users, who feel compelled to make a decision.</p>
