Microsoft is launching a new category of PCs specifically equipped to run artificial intelligence (AI) workloads locally. This hardware makes it possible to work offline with the same ease as online.
The new computer, called Copilot + PC, derives its performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon X-series processor and an optimized version of Windows 11. The extra computing power that gives AI software wings does not come at the expense of battery life. Manufacturers such as Acer claim that the battery lasts all day. In addition, most new models are very slim.
The new hardware should help Microsoft recoup its gigantic investments in AI software. The world’s largest software maker has an annual turnover of almost five billion dollars in computer hardware. Apple is six times bigger with the Mac. Microsoft hopes that the Surface laptops, never a great commercial success, will now finally break through. The manufacturer is doing everything it can to popularize its AI assistant Copilot as quickly as possible.
Recall
During the Copilot + PC event last Monday, Microsoft also launched the new AI-powered tool Recall. This allows you to quickly find documents, images and more on the PC. You only have to describe the clues that you can remember. A timeline makes it easy to scroll through time to get back to apps, documents and messages. The AI function records what you do on your PC by taking screenshots every few seconds. Recall works like a searchable ‘photographic memory’ of your laptop activity. Although Microsoft says everything works locally on the PC, British regulators are still investigating whether this violates consumer privacy. Furthermore, Microsoft launched new updates within Microsoft Copilot this week, including upgrades for Cocreator in Paint by Designer, Windows Studio Effects and Live Subtitles.
Ai-ready!
All major PC manufacturers will be releasing PCs that can work well with AI in the second half of June. They provide users with access to large language models even when they are offline. According to market researchers, these AI-ready PCs will quickly conquer a significant market share. Canalys predicts that 19 percent of PCs sold this year will be optimized for AI. In 2027 this percentage would be 60. That is remarkable because the newcomers are not cheap.
Chips such as the Snapdragon X Elite, which powers the Acer Swift 14 AI, among others, are still quite pricey. But then you have twelve CPU cores, a powerful graphics processor and a neural Hexagon processor that can handle 45 trillion operations per second. These devices are also equipped with ample memory and a decent SSD. The Acer Swift 14 AI will be available in the Benelux from August from 1,499 euros. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x will be released next month. The price tag is approximately 2,100 euros. In addition, Lenovo is launching the more business-friendly ThinkPad T14s Gen 6, also with a Snapdragon X Elite on board. Asus, Dell, HP and Samsung also come with similar models.