Microsoft aims to bring generative AI to the forefront of Windows and the PCs operating it.
In a keynote before its annual Build developer conference this week, Microsoft introduced a new lineup of Windows machines called Copilot+ PCs, alongside AI-powered features like Recall, which assists users in finding apps, files, and other content they’ve viewed previously. Copilot, Microsoft’s generative AI, will soon be more deeply woven into the Windows 11 experience. New Microsoft Surface devices are also on the horizon.
Here’s a roundup of all the significant announcements.
Copilot+ PCs
Copilot+ PCs represent Microsoft’s vision for AI-centric, flagship Windows hardware. They all come with dedicated NPUs to enhance AI experiences like Recall, and they feature a minimum of 16GB of RAM paired with SSD storage.
The inaugural Copilot+ PCs will include Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips, which Microsoft claims can provide up to 15 hours of web browsing and 20 hours of video playback on a single charge. Additionally, Intel and AMD are also onboard to create processors for Copilot+ devices in collaboration with manufacturers such as Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung.
Copilot+ PCs start at $999, with some models available for preorder today.
Surface Pro and Surface Laptop
Microsoft’s newly launched Surface devices, the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, emphasize performance and battery life.
The latest Surface Laptop, available in 13.8- or 15-inch models, boasts a redesign with “modern lines” and narrower screen bezels. It promises up to 22 hours of battery life and is up to 86% faster than the Surface Laptop 5. It supports Wi-Fi 7 and features a haptic feedback touchpad.
The new Surface Pro is reportedly up to 90% faster than its predecessor, the Surface Pro 9. It features a new OLED HDR display, Wi-Fi 7 (with an optional 5G variant), and an upgraded ultrawide front-facing camera. Its detachable keyboard, reinforced with additional carbon fiber, now includes haptic feedback.
Recall
Windows 11’s new Recall feature can “remember” apps and content accessed on a PC weeks or even months prior, aiding in rediscovering past activities like a Discord chat about potential clothing purchases. Users can scroll back in Recall’s timeline to revisit recent activities and delve into files like PowerPoint presentations for relevant information.
Microsoft states that Recall can link associations between colors, images, and more, enabling users to search for nearly anything on their PCs using natural language, similar to technology from startup Rewind. Importantly, all user data related to Recall is kept private and stored locally on the device, without being used to train AI models.
Here’s more from Microsoft: “Your snapshots are yours; they stay locally on your PC. You can delete individual snapshots, adjust and delete ranges of time in Settings, or pause at any point right from the icon in the System Tray on your Taskbar. You can also filter apps and websites from ever being saved.”
Image Editing and Live Translations
Windows now boasts more AI features, with some exclusive to the new Copilot+ PCs.
A new feature called Super Resolution can enhance old photos by automatically upscaling them. Additionally, Copilot can analyze images to provide creative composition ideas. Through a feature called Cocreator, users can generate images and ask the AI to modify or restyle the artwork they’re creating.
Live Captions with live translations can translate any audio played through a PC, whether from YouTube or a local file, into the user’s chosen language. Initially, live translations will support around 40 languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian.
Windows Copilot Runtime
The Windows Copilot Runtime, a suite of about 40 generative AI models, powers features like Recall and Super Resolution. Described by Microsoft as “a new layer” of Windows, these AI models work with the semantic index, a vector-based local system, to enable generative AI-powered apps, including third-party ones, to operate without needing an internet connection.
Microsoft mentions that CapCut, the popular video editor created by ByteDance, will leverage the Windows Copilot Runtime to enhance its AI functionalities.
