Microsoft today announced what it calls a “new era” of Windows PC with Copilot+, a set of next-generation artificial intelligence features and experiences for Windows 11 that will ship exclusively on new Copilot+-branded PCs launching this summer. Copilot+ is the next stage of the AI ​​PC, capable of more advanced AI features that Microsoft is building into the next version of Windows 11.
To be a Copilot+ computer, it must contain an NPU with at least 45 TOPS. The new Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series chips are the first Windows PC chips on the market to achieve this benchmark, meaning the first wave of Copilot+ PCs will be exclusively powered by Windows on Arm. Copilot+ computers with Intel and AMD chips are expected to follow later this year.
Microsoft offers several new artificial intelligence capabilities that are only possible on Copilot+ computers:
- Recall everything you saw by asking for it
- Visually and contextually aware Copilot.
- Live transcript translations
- Automatic super resolution
- Improved image and text generation with Cocreator
- Windows Studio Advanced Effects
The next-generation AI experiences coming to Windows 11 are nothing short of impressive. The most notable new feature is Recall, which runs in the background and remembers everything you see and do on your computer, lets you search for anything you’ve done on your computer using natural language, and works in any app.
Described by Microsoft as a truly powerful productivity tool, it’s an example of how AI can work in the background to improve your workflow. Ideally, the days of not being able to find a conversation, web page, document, image or video are a thing of the past because you can simply recall it.
Recall includes a built-in timeline interface that allows users to scroll through the different snapshots Windows has captured based on your search criteria. For example, if you search for “dinosaurs,” the timeline will show you every time dinosaur content was on your screen so you can jump to it.
Recall can also understand what’s currently on your screen and provide helpful contextual suggestions based on what it sees. You can look at an image on a web page and the Recall interface will prompt you to edit the photo with a single click. It might also help to compare two documents or articles you have open side by side.
Microsoft is also touting improvements to Live Captions, which on Copilot+ PCs can translate more than 40 different languages ​​into English from any live or pre-recorded audio and video right on the device without going to the cloud. Windows Studio Effects is also more advanced, with the ability to virtually enhance lighting conditions or apply art styles in real time to webcam video.
Finally, Microsoft highlights the improved AI generative feature coming to Copilot and Cocreator. Copilot+ devices will be able to generate images and text without going to the cloud, which should make using Copilot much faster for certain tasks. Cocreator can now also draw alongside you and help with art designs.
Microsoft is describing Copilot+ PCs as the start of a new era for Windows devices, betting that these new AI features will be compelling enough for end users to want to upgrade from their existing PCs.
Copilot+ computers will be launched in June
If you’re eager to get your hands on some of the first Copilot+ computers, you won’t have to wait long. Microsoft says the first Copilot+ PCs will start shipping next month, sometime in June. However, many of these next-generation AI experiences won’t be available right away, as they’re expected to launch later this year.
The first devices to launch under the Copilot+ moniker are Microsoft’s own Surface Pro and Surface Laptop devices, which feature Snapdragon X chips among other improvements. However, the Surface isn’t the only Copilot+ computer launched in June of this year. All major OEMs are expected to introduce Copilot+ computers next month.
Finally, these new Copilot+ PCs seem to come with a new Windows 11 default wallpaper. It’s a remix of the original Windows 11 Bloom wallpaper, but mixed with the colors of the Copilot icon. That’s great.