Microsoft is reportedly holding an event in Seattle on May 20 to detail its vision for its “AI computing.” The event will take place on the day before Microsoft’s Build Developer Conference begins. CEO Satya Nadella will discuss the company’s “AI vision across hardware and software,” as reported by The Verge.
According to sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans, the report states that Microsoft is confident its new ARM-powered Windows laptops can outperform Apple’s M3-powered MacBook Air in terms of CPU performance and AI-accelerated tasks.
Microsoft is reportedly placing a strong emphasis on Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon X Elite ARM-based chipset and is planning a series of demonstrations showcasing its superiority over Apple’s M3 MacBook in CPU tasks, AI acceleration, and app performance.
The highlight here is app emulation (where an x64-based app is translated into ARM), which was not initially impressive, but Microsoft now believes that Windows AI PCs will offer better emulation than Apple’s Rosetta 2, which was highly praised during the release of Apple’s M1.
So, what exactly are these AI computers? They are the ARM-based laptops set to launch in the second half of this year. Microsoft has already introduced its Intel Core Ultra and AMD-powered Surface Pro 10, but the report suggests that it will also offer the Surface Pro 10 with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processors.
These AI-powered machines will come with exclusive access to AI Explorer – an app that enables users to “retrieve anything they’ve ever seen or done on their device.” Designed to function as a timeline accessible on your computer, it utilizes an on-device NPU (Neural Processing Unit) to scan through a timeline of events.
Additionally, there will be an AI-powered video streaming feature, and AI PCs will have access to Windows Studio effects for background blur, the ability to generate free images using AI models, and the option to allow Copilot to access your computer data for context and to enhance recommendations.