That’s quite a simplistic one unfortunately - USB 2 and 3 use different controllers in the PC, which it can indeed detect. The sub-flavours of 3/4 less so.

I've used all manner of archaic usb cables for data transfer when in a pinch and windows has never shown me anything at all. Could it be the external device you were connecting to triggering the windows notification?

I have seen these kinds of notifications on occasion but they are far from the norm.