Microsoft introduces CoPilot+ PCs with 40+ TOPS of AI performance

Microsoft wants to revolutionise the laptop market by introducing Copilot+ PCs, a new branding that will signal the integration of AI technology into Windows laptops. This move comes as part of a strategic effort to bring AI capabilities to the forefront of the operating system.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made the announcement, revealing that the company's laptop partners, including Dell, Lenovo, Samsung, HP, Acer, and Asus, will all offer Copilot+ PCs. Additionally, Microsoft will introduce two new models as part of the Surface range: the Surface Pro 9 and the Surface Laptop 5. It's worth noting that the AI integration is not limited to a specific processor type, as both Arm-based and traditional Intel and AMD CPUs will feature AI functions.

The AI capabilities come from an NPU, with one of the standout features being “Recall”. This feature is expected to leverage AI to create a searchable “photographic memory” of user activity on the device and will be supported by more than 40 AI models integrated into Windows 11 and Microsoft's own AI assistant, Copilot, which will also support OpenAI's GPT-4 model.

According to Microsoft, the new laptops are projected to be up to 58% faster than a MacBook Air in multithreaded performance and feature impressive battery life. To ensure that the performance lives up to Microsoft's promises, Copilot+ PCs will have specific minimum requirements, including a minimum of 256GB of SSD storage, an integrated NPU, and 16GB of RAM. 

Microsoft is positioning these devices as the start of a new era for Windows laptops, with the transition to Arm-based CPUs and the integration of AI capabilities representing significant technological leaps. Although these are ambitious endeavours, if successful, they have the potential to transform the industry, marking a possible shift in the laptop market from using x86 CPUs to ARM-based ones. The first Copilot+ PCs, powered by Qualcomm CPUs, are expected to hit the market on June 18th. Later, more laptops featuring Intel (Lunar Lake) and AMD CPUs will be released. 

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KitGuru says: What do you think of Microsoft's Copilot+ PC branding? Do you think it will be helpful or just a marketing gimmick?

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