Days before Apple WWDC event, Microsoft’s AI laptop initiative just got some bad news. While the first Copilot+ devices whose premiere is scheduled for June 18, it turns out that only some of the modern laptops sold under the name Copilot+ will have any advanced artificial intelligence functions built-in at the time of premiere.
This is a bit surprising because processing companies AMD AND Intel both announced at Computex that they will release Copilot+-compatible laptop chips later this fall. Previously, Microsoft only talked about the arrival of Copilot+ Windows on the shoulder devices that utilize Qualcomm chips.
That’s a lot of branding, but it basically means that Copilot+ laptops will now be split between three different chipsets – and unfortunately it looks like two of those chipsets will lag behind the other.
In statements to EdgeRepresentatives of Microsoft, Intel, AMD and Nvidia (working with AMD) confirmed that laptops from brands other than Qualcomm will have to wait for Copilot+ features. Although ARM-based laptops will arrive later this month with access to Remembering something and focuses on games Auto super resolution modelaptops with AMD and Intel chips will have to wait for “free updates” to get these features, Microsoft marketing manager James Howell told The Verge.
More specifically, AMD PR manager Matthew Hurwitz indicated that these “Copilot+ experiences” may not arrive until “slow 2024.”
Perhaps some of this was to be expected. Intel’s own press release about the AI laptop chips mentioned that Copilot+ features will be made available via free updates “when available.” However, until now, the language and potential timelines have not been entirely clear.
Although Microsoft does not directly produce AMD or Intel devices, with the exception of some Surface models, this puts the Windows maker in a complex position as Apple prepares its own artificial intelligence features to be implemented in macOS 15. Overall, an Apple user will be able to buying a modern Mac and assuming it can handle all Mac features; Windows users looking to get into AI will be divided into three options and will need to do a lot more research on what they can and can’t do on their modern machines out of the box.
