Microsoft Surface and Copilot Event: Everything announced including new Surface laptops, Copilot+ PC and more
Is Microsoft's Copilot+ PC the Future of AI?
At the pre-Build event, Microsoft introduced the concept of Copilot+ PCs, designed to handle generative AI processes locally with at least 40 TOPs NPU performance, 16GB RAM, and 256GB storage. These PCs are aimed to be faster and more efficient, with several manufacturers including Microsoft launching models. The new Surface laptops feature Qualcomm chips, thinner bezels, and enhanced battery life, starting at $999 for a June release.
Additionally, Microsoft revealed enhancements in Windows 11 tailored for AI and Arm architecture, including built-in AI APIs and a new emulator for better app compatibility. The event also highlighted new AI-driven features like Recall for content retrieval and a redesigned Copilot app for interactive AI assistance. Third-party apps and games will benefit from native Arm support and new AI capabilities, enhancing overall user experience on these platforms.
How has Microsoft redesigned Windows 11 to better integrate with Arm architecture and AI capabilities?
Microsoft has redesigned Windows 11 to better integrate with Arm architecture and AI capabilities by introducing several new features and improvements. The company has developed a new kernel and compiler specifically for Arm-based systems, as well as an emulator called Prism to run x86 and x64 apps. This emulator is said to be 20 percent faster than Microsoft's previous emulator, improving the performance of non-native applications on Arm devices.
Additionally, AI APIs have been built directly into the operating system, allowing developers to tap into AI capabilities more easily. There is also a new driver compute model that recognizes neural engines more like how Windows sees CPUs and GPUs, which should help Arm hardware feel less like an afterthought and improve AI processing efficiency1.
Furthermore, Microsoft has focused on supporting older software by ensuring that many popular apps, such as Chrome, Spotify, Zoom, WhatsApp, Blender, Affinity Suite, and DaVinci Resolve, will run natively on Arm-based Windows 11 devices.
Overall, these enhancements aim to make Windows 11 more efficient and powerful on Arm devices while providing better support for AI workloads and applications.
What is the Recall feature in Copilot+ PCs, and how does it function to assist users?
The Recall feature in Copilot+ PCs is a significant enhancement designed to help users locate and access past activities and content on their computers using natural language prompts14. This feature is akin to an advanced version of the Timeline feature from Windows 10, but it is much more powerful due to its integration with AI capabilities.
Recall functions by allowing users to describe what they are looking for, whether it's a document, an email, a website, or even a chat conversation. For instance, if a user remembers seeing a particular patterned sweater online but can't recall the details, they can simply describe the sweater to Recall. The tool then searches through the user's PC activities, including web browsing history and file interactions, to find matching or relevant items.
The data accessed by Recall remains on the device, ensuring privacy and security. This local processing means that the information is not used to train Microsoft's AI models externally or shared. Recall represents a step forward in making AI-assisted search more intuitive and useful for everyday tasks, leveraging the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs to deliver a more personalized and efficient user experience4.