The applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in everyday activity is a never-ending innovation. It's barely few days after Google's Alphabet unveiled GPT-4o, Microsoft has unveiled a new AI-powered Windows PCs known as "Copilot+ PCs". This latest Microsoft's creation comes with advanced AI capabilities. With this, Microsoft underscores its commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology across its product lineup.
This new category of Microsoft Windows PCs designed for AI was announced today at a special event at the new Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington. Copilot+ PCs are designed to be the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built. Copilot+ PCs are designed with powerful new silicon capable of an incredible 40+ TOPS (trillion operations per second), all-day battery life, and access to the most advanced AI models.
The features of Copilot+ PCs will enable the user to do things that cannot be done on any other PC. Users can find and remember what they saw on the PC. They can recall, generate and refine AI images in near real-time directly on the device using Cocreator, and bridge language barriers with Live Captions. Users can also translate audio from 40+ languages into English.
Copilot+ PCs launch now places Microsoft at par with tech giants such as Alphabet and Apple. During the launch event, CEO Satya Nadella mentioned that the Copilot+ PCs are created in collaboration with manufacturers like Acer and Asustek Computer.
According to Microsoft, the Copilot+ PCs can manage a greater share of AI tasks locally. They can also reduce reliance on cloud data centres. These PCs are presently priced from $1,000, and the devices are slated to begin shipping on June 18. The lineup includes laptops from established manufacturers such as Dell Technologies, HP, and Samsung Electronics, complemented by two models from Microsoft itself.
Microsoft also revealed that OpenAI’s GPT-4o will soon be integrated into Copilot+ PCs. Additionally, the new series of Surface Pro tablets and Surface Laptops will incorporate Qualcomm chips based on Arm Holdings’ designs, utilizing the innovative Prism technology to adapt software originally designed for Intel and AMD processors for use on Arm-based systems.
While demonstrating the efficiency of Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft showcased how its new devices, running Adobe photo editing software, outperformed an Apple device. This looks like the beginning of an era of fierce competition in AI development.
Technical innovations and product range
Here are the basic technical configuration ranges for the Copilot+ PCs:
Qualcomm Snapdragon X series system-on-chip. This chip includes a built-in AI accelerator capable of delivering up to 45 tera operations per second (TOPS) of computing power.
Copilot+ version of the Surface Pro, a versatile two-in-one PC. This 10.6-inch tablet converts into a laptop with a detachable keyboard, known as the Flex Keyboard, which also functions as a wireless connector and stylus charger for the Surface Pro.
Snapdragon X processor, available with up to 32 gigabytes of RAM and one terabyte of storage. The high-end models feature an OLED display, enhancing visual quality significantly.
A distinctive feature of the Copilot+ series is “Recall”. This feature allows the device to log all user activities—from web browsing to voice chats—and store this data locally. This functionality creates a searchable history that users can access to revisit past activities, even months later.
Microsoft is optimistic about the potential market share for its Copilot+ PCs.