Microsoft Launches AI Revolution in Windows with Copilot+
Whoa, Microsoft just announced CoPilot + PC
It’s not just AI chat app, it’s your AI assistant in real-time.
5 wild features:
1. Help you with games in real-timepic.twitter.com/HBy5HCZtoV
— Min Choi (@minchoi) May 21, 2024
Microsoft is setting the stage to make generative AI a core feature of Windows and the PCs that run it.
In a keynote just before its annual Build developer conference, Microsoft introduced a new lineup of Windows machines named Copilot+ PCs. These devices are designed with generative AI-powered features like Recall, which aids users in retrieving apps, files, and other content they’ve interacted with previously. The integration of Copilot, Microsoft’s proprietary generative AI, into Windows 11 is set to deepen significantly. Additionally, new Microsoft Surface devices are also on the horizon.
Here’s a summary of all the key announcements:
Copilot+ PCs
Envisioned as AI-first, flagship Windows hardware, Copilot+ PCs come equipped with dedicated NPUs (neural processing units) to enhance AI experiences like Recall. These machines also boast a minimum of 16GB of RAM and SSD storage.
The initial models of Copilot+ PCs will feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips, which Microsoft touts as providing up to 15 hours of web browsing and 20 hours of video playback on a single battery charge. Major chipmakers Intel and AMD are also on board, collaborating with various manufacturers including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung to produce processors for these AI-centric devices.
Pricing for Copilot+ PCs starts at $999, with some models available for pre-order starting today.
Surface Pro and Surface Laptop
Microsoft has recently unveiled its latest Surface devices, the Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, with a strong emphasis on performance and battery life.
The new Surface Laptop is available in two sizes: 13.8 inches and 15 inches. It features a sleek redesign characterized by “modern lines” and slimmer screen bezels. This model is designed to last up to 22 hours on a single charge and boasts a performance speed that is up to 86% faster than its predecessor, the Surface Laptop 5. Additionally, it is equipped with Wi-Fi 7 and includes a touchpad that offers haptic feedback.
On the other hand, the latest Surface Pro has seen significant enhancements over the previous generation, the Surface Pro 9. It is up to 90% faster and features a new OLED display with HDR capabilities, Wi-Fi 7 support (with an optional 5G upgrade), and an improved ultrawide front-facing camera. Moreover, its detachable keyboard, now reinforced with extra carbon fiber, also includes haptic feedback, enhancing the tactile experience for users.
Recall Feature in Windows 11
Microsoft is set to enhance Windows 11 with an innovative feature called Recall, designed to help users effortlessly locate apps and content they’ve interacted with weeks or even months prior. For instance, Recall could assist a user in finding a specific Discord chat where they discussed potential clothing purchases. This feature allows users to “scroll back” through their digital activities, revisiting what they were working on in the recent past. It even enables drilling down into files, such as PowerPoint presentations, to unearth information that might be relevant to current searches.
Recall is engineered to create associations between colors, images, and more, allowing users to conduct searches on their PCs using natural language—a capability reminiscent of technology from the startup Rewind. Importantly, Microsoft emphasizes user privacy with Recall, ensuring that all data related to the feature remains private and stored locally on the device. The company assures that this data is not used to train AI models.
Microsoft further assures users of their control over their data: “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 the feature 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.” This level of control ensures users can manage their privacy and data interaction directly and effectively.
Enhanced AI Features in Windows: Image Editing and Live Translations
Windows is now more AI-powered than ever, especially with the introduction of features exclusive to the new Copilot+ PCs.
One exciting innovation is Super Resolution, a feature designed to breathe new life into old photos by automatically upscaling them. Additionally, Copilot now enhances image analysis to offer users creative composition ideas. Through a feature named Cocreator, users can not only generate images but also interact with the AI model to modify or restyle their drawings in real time.
Another significant advancement is the introduction of Live Captions with live translations. This feature converts any audio playing through a PC—from YouTube videos to local files—into the user’s chosen language. Initially, live translations will support approximately 40 languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian.
Windows Copilot Runtime
At the core of these capabilities, such as Recall and Super Resolution, lies the Windows Copilot Runtime. This new layer within Windows comprises about 40 generative AI models. Combined with the semantic index, a vector-based system localized to each individual Copilot+ PC, this framework enables generative AI-powered apps, including third-party applications, to operate offline without requiring an internet connection.
Microsoft has announced that CapCut, the popular video editor from TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, will utilize the Windows Copilot Runtime to enhance its AI features significantly.
