Windows finds a Copilot+ PC partner in Qualcomm

Microsoft has fully embraced the AI future for Windows. In the 2024 Surface and Windows AI event, the company unveiled the new iterations of the Surface lineup. To no one’s surprise, the future of Windows going forward will rely on their AI platform thus now known as Copilot+ PCs.

The more intriguing announcement was that the first of these new Copilot+ PCs will utilize Qualcomm processors instead of AMD or Intel chips. 

The new Surface Pro will use Qualcomm’s Arm-based Snapdragon X processors. Microsoft says it will be nearly 90% faster than the previous model and will also have an option to be purchased with a shiny OLED display. At $999, Microsoft is banking on Qualcomm to help bring AI to Windows effectively.

The Surface Laptop also gets the Qualcomm refresh and will be 80% faster than the previous models. The Surface Laptop 6 largely remains the same clamshell laptop, but will have slightly slimmer bezels and all of the new benefits that come with being a Copilot+ PC.

Copilot+ PCs will be all about software. Microsoft has already lined up features to be explored by not only their hardware partners, but their software ones too like Adobe. The age of AI is already here and Microsoft wants to make neural processing easily accessible to PC owners.