Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC push leaves existing ‘AI PCs’ behind
Microsoft just announced a new wave of Copilot+ PCs. These PCs will have a bundle of extra AI features that use the neural processing unit (NPU) hardware built into the PC’s hardware for superpowered AI experiences, like Recall, powered by the PC’s local hardware — they’ll even work offline.
There’s just one problem: If you bought one of those “AI laptops” PC manufacturers have been selling for the first half of 2024 — the ones with neural processing units (NPUs) — you may be surprised to learn no existing “AI laptops” will be getting these new features.
That’s right, existing AI PCs with Intel, AMD, and Nvidia hardware aren’t getting Windows 11’s big AI features. Those neural processing units just don’t meet Microsoft’s hardware requirements.
Why ‘AI PCs’ aren’t ‘Copilot+ PCs’
PC manufacturers have been selling “AI PCs” for months. There are a variety of different “AI PCs” you can buy right now:
Laptops with Intel’s Meteor Lake-powered “Core Ultra” CPUs are being proudly branded “AI PCs.” Intel’s Meteor Lake platform includes an NPU. Many of these laptops have Microsoft’s Copilot keyboard key, too.
Gaming laptop manufacturers are advertising so-called “AI gaming laptops” with powerful Nvidia GPUs — just the standard Nvidia graphics hardware you’d find in a gaming laptop.
Microsoft seems to be pivoting away from the current “AI PC” branding. Instead, the company is pushing the “Copilot+ PC” certification. Only PCs with this certification will get the new AI features Microsoft is showing off for Windows 11. To be branded a Copilot+ PC, a PC will need to meet these minimum requirements:
A neural process unit (NPU) with at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) to run the AI models.
16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to make room for the AI models.