Has Microsoft Won The AI PC Race?
As leading software manufacturers race to optimize laptops with AI, Microsoft’s Copilot+ launch is a pretty big mic-drop moment for the company.
Not only does Microsoft promise its new era of PCs can outperform Apple’s Macbook Air 15″ by up 58%, but it also claims they can deliver 20% more battery in local video playback than its competitor. In short, Microsoft’s boundary-breaking technology currently has the upper hand over Apple in just about every category – and it’s being launched by some of the largest PC markers in the world – but how long can this last?
While Apple has famously dragged its heels when it comes to AI development, analysts predict the iPhone retailer will announce its most powerful Mac line-up yet next month, thanks to its newly developed M4 Neural Engine. The chip, which has already been integrated into Apple’s new iPad Pro, is capable of an astounding 38 trillion operations per second, giving Microsoft’s GPU a great run for its money.
According to Linn Huang, an analyst at global market intelligence firm IDC, the technology being developed by Microsoft and Apple will be ubiquitous by the end of the century. However, for the time being, Copilot+’s entry price of $1,000 will likely provide a barrier to entry for many curious AI aficionados who are still capable of accusing many of the PC’s exciting features in the cloud.