“Copilot + PCs” with arm chips
Microsoft wants to beat Apple’s MacBooks with AI PCs
21.05.2024, 12:01
Since Apple equipped its computers with its own M chips, Windows computers have started to look pretty old. Microsoft is now countering with “Copilot + PCs”, which, under AI control, are said to be not only smarter, but also more powerful and more durable than current MacBooks.
Microsoft is relying on artificial intelligence (AI) to bring Windows PCs into the future. Core of the plan: The in-house AI assistant Copilot, developed using the technology behind ChatGPT, will play the main role. The PC architecture is subordinated to this goal. A new additional chip only takes care of AI applications, which should make the computer faster and extend battery life.
Microsoft calls the new architecture, which is intended to enable the “fastest and smartest Windows PCs ever built,” “Copilot + PC.” And the order is no coincidence, emphasizes marketing director Yusuf Mehdi. The computer is subordinate to AI – and only one of the platforms for it.
Computers should understand people
A prime example of Microsoft’s vision for the PC of the future is the “Recall” search function, which is intended to help you find everything you have seen or done on your computer. Essentially, the computer saves a screen capture every few seconds and analyzes the content using AI models. This should help if, for example, you can’t remember the name of a travel website you visited – but you can remember that it had a picture of palm trees and the sea. Then it should be enough to type “palm trees and sea” into the search mask to find the website again using the screenshot.
Microsoft boss Satya Nadella at the presentation of the Copilot + PCs.
(Photo: Andrej Sokolow/dpa)
This is more in line with how human memory works, argues Microsoft. The goal in the computer industry has always been “to build computers that understand us, instead of us having to understand computers,” says Microsoft boss Satya Nadella. He feels that this vision brings us “closer to a real breakthrough.”
“Life changing” experience
How useful “Recall” will be in everyday life remains to be seen for each individual. Microsoft developers, some of whom have been living with the function for several months, praise it as life-changing. Mehdi, for example, says he always left too many browser tabs open because he was worried about not being able to find the pages again. He is now breaking this habit.
As with smartphone chips, a processor is specialized for AI tasks.
(Photo: Microsoft)
At the same time, “Recall” has limits. On AI PCs with the minimum memory of 256 gigabytes, the function’s memory will only last about three months. The many screen recordings ultimately take up space – and in order to increase user confidence, “Recall” initially only works on the computer, without the cloud. This means that more than 18 months are not possible, even with larger storage. At the same time, Mehdi assures that the range of functions will be expanded over time.
A small revolution is taking place under the hood of the first new AI PCs: They do not run with Intel processors, but with technology from the chip developer Arm, which is also found in practically all smartphones. In recent years, Apple has switched the entire range of its Macs from Intel processors to chips developed in-house based on the Arm architecture. As a result, they outpaced Windows PCs in terms of speed and battery life.
Apple’s MacBook Air M3 as a benchmark
Acer is jumping on the Copilot + PC bandwagon with the Swift 14 AI Touch.
(Photo: Acer)
In Microsoft’s presentation, Apple’s current MacBook Air with M3 chip was cited as the benchmark. Copilot + PCs are said to be up to 58 percent faster and offer up to 20 percent longer runtimes. However, Apple recently introduced the M4 chip, which premiered in the new iPad Pro.
Unlike Apple, Microsoft does not develop the chips itself, but works with Qualcomm. The chips used in the Copilot X PCs are called Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite. Qualcomm boss Cristiano Amon has long said that the future belongs to Arm technology not only in smartphones, but also in the PC market. However, Microsoft also has a place available for its long-time partner Intel. When the next generation of chips with Intel’s architecture is ready, there should also be AI PCs with it. It is an additional effort for Microsoft to support both chip worlds, but diversity is good, says Mehdi.
Microsoft lacks smartphones
Microsoft has been making attempts to bring Windows to Arm chips for years. But the devices always performed worse than Intel PCs. Now there are not only better processors, but also, thanks to Apple, more programs specifically adapted to the Arm architecture and a Windows rewritten for it.
However, a fundamental problem for Microsoft’s AI functions such as the “recall” search remains: the company only has extensive data access on PCs, while the smartphone platforms are controlled by Google and Apple. Mehdi points out that the Copilot app is also present there – although so far with fewer functions than on the PC.
Market launch on June 18th
Microsoft is launching its own Copilot + PCs with Surface-branded tablets and notebooks, but Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung are also on board. The new devices will be launched on June 18th and pre-orders are available now.
You won’t be able to get a Copilot + PC for less than 1000 euros; prices for the Acer Swift 14 AI or the Asus Vivobook S 15, for example, start at around 1400 euros.