Microsoft rebuilt Windows 11 around AI and Arm chips
Is Windows 11's AI & ARM Revamp a Game Changer?
Microsoft has revamped Windows 11 to enhance its compatibility with Arm chips and integrate AI more deeply, introducing a new emulator, Prism, to better support older Windows applications. This overhaul is part of Microsoft's Copilot+ AI initiative, which also features new devices using Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips. Despite past challenges with Windows on Arm, the improvements aim to optimize the OS for Arm's capabilities and AI tasks, making it a more viable option for developers and users alike.
What is the new emulator introduced by Microsoft for Windows 11 and what is its purpose?
The new emulator introduced by Microsoft for Windows 11 is called "Prism." Its purpose is to provide improved support for running older x86 and x64 applications on Arm-based hardware and AI. Prism is claimed to be around 20 percent faster than Microsoft's previous emulator and aims to improve the number of apps it supports.
What are the main enhancements made to Windows 11 to support Arm-based hardware and AI?
Microsoft has rebuilt core components of Windows 11 to better support Arm-based hardware and AI as part of their new Copilot+ AI PC initiative1. The main enhancements include:
- A new kernel and compiler designed to better support Arm-based hardware.
- An emulator named "Prism" for running older x86 and x64 apps, claimed to be around 20% faster than the previous emulator.
- Reworked Windows 11 schedulers to take advantage of Arm capabilities and AI workloads.
- A new driver compute model that recognizes neural engines more like how Windows sees CPUs and GPUs.
- AI APIs built directly into the OS, allowing developers to tap into AI capabilities more easily.
These enhancements aim to make Arm hardware no longer feel like an afterthought and provide better support for both newer Arm-based hardware and older software.