At a special event on May 20, Microsoft made significant announcements focusing on artificial intelligence. Highlighted by the debut of a new category called Copilot+ PCs, the 2024 Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are the first Windows PCs under this platform. Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Series, these devices mark a major leap forward in AI applications in consumer technology.
With the new AI computers with specialised artificial intelligence chips and faster performance, Microsoft is set to revive the long-running rivalry between Windows PCs and Apple Mac. Not the chips alone, the US-based software giant is betting equally on the Windows platform by preparing it as an AI platform, powered by Arm chips.
Microsoft Copilot+ PCs
Microsoft is branding the Copilot+ PCs as the fastest and most intelligent Windows PCs. Utilizing Qualcomm’s ARM architecture-based chips, these PCs outperform Apple’s MacBook Air 15-inch with M3 by up to 58% in sustained multithreaded performance. The Qualcomm chips feature dedicated neural processing units (NPUs) capable of over 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS), enabling advanced AI tools and features. The Copilot+ experience will extend to Intel and AMD devices with their upcoming Lunar Lake and Strix chips.
These NPUs will be responsible for powering AI tools and features natively on the new range of Windows PCs. Microsoft said that the Copilot+ PC experience will also come to Intel and AMD powered devices with their upcoming Lunar Lake and Strix chips, respectively.
Expanding Ecosystem With Artificial Intelligence
In addition to Microsoft’s Surface line, other OEMs such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung will release Copilot+ PCs based on Qualcomm X-series chips starting June 18.
Artificial Intelligence Integration in Windows
Microsoft is preparing Windows as an AI platform with the new 45 TOPS NPU, introducing features like “Recall,” which works like a photographic memory, running entirely on-device for privacy. AI-powered Image Creator features will be integrated into native apps like Paint and Photos. Microsoft has also collaborated with developers to ensure optimal app support on the new Arm-based Copilot+ PCs, including Adobe’s Photoshop, Lightroom, and other software like DaVinci Resolve Studio and CapCut.
Microsoft said that it has collaborated with developers to bring optimal app support to the new Arm-based Copilot+ PCs. The new range of PCs will support select apps from Adobe such as Photoshop, Lightroom and Express, while Illustrator, Premiere Pro and more will come to the platform later
Microsoft Surface Pro and Surface Laptop
Microsoft debuted the Copilot+ PCs with the launch of Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series chips, both these laptops are among the first to offer Copilot+ Windows experiences out of the box.
The new Surface Pro and Surface Laptop are the first to offer the Copilot+ Windows experience. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series chips, the Surface Pro offers options for Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus processors, with a 13-inch display and support for up to three external 4K displays. The Surface Laptop, available in 14-inch and 15-inch options, features a new PixelSense touchscreen display with smaller bezels and longer battery life of up to 22 hours.
Enhanced Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft announced that its AI-powered chatbot, Copilot, will soon support the new GPT-4o model from OpenAI, capable of processing image, text, and audio, further enhancing the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs.
Industry Impact
These developments represent a significant advancement in artificial intelligence and are set to reignite the rivalry between Windows PCs and Apple Macs. Microsoft’s focus on AI, combined with specialized chips and robust performance, positions it at the forefront of the next generation of computing.
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