Microsoft introduces 'Copilot+ PC'

Microsoft unveiled a new line of Windows PCs with a focus on integrated artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. These Copilot Plus PCs will feature Neural Processing Units (NPUs) designed to handle AI tasks directly on the device, potentially improving performance and responsiveness for certain applications.

While details remain scarce, Microsoft’s announcement suggests a focus on Qualcomm’s Arm-based processors for these initial Copilot Plus machines. This could mark a shift in PC architecture, with emphasis on power efficiency and on-device AI processing capabilities. Collaboration with other chipmakers like AMD and Intel is also ongoing.

Major PC manufacturers including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung are partnering with Microsoft on Copilot Plus devices. This collaboration ensures a broad range of options for consumers seeking AI-powered Windows PCs.

Mehdi recapped the past year, highlighting the introduction of a new Copilot key, NPUs, and the widespread availability of Copilot. Mehdi emphasized that these improvements provide a compelling reason to upgrade your PC. Microsoft estimates that 50 million AI PCs will be sold over the next year.

Mehdi described the new PCs as incredibly thin, light, and beautiful, and the most powerful Windows PCs ever built. He also mentioned that they will include breakthrough AI experiences.

Microsoft claims to have rearchitected Windows 11 to outperform the MacBook Air, stating that the new PCs are 58% faster than the most advanced MacBook Air with the M3 processor, all while having a battery that can last all day.

Moving on to the experiences on the new Copilot Plus PCs, a new Windows Copilot Runtime will be included. These new PCs will feature a 40 TOPS NPU, and Recall, which was codenamed AI Explorer.

The first Copilot Plus PCs will be based on Snapdragon X Elite chips from Qualcomm, offering up to 15 hours of web browsing and up to 20 hours of video battery life. Davuluri mentioned that these devices outperform the MacBook Air M3 in sustained performance.

Adobe’s flagship apps are coming to Copilot Plus PCs in native ARM64 versions. Photoshop, Lightroom, Firefly, and Express are all available now, with Illustrator and Premier Pro expected to be available in June or slightly after.