Microsoft likes “AI PCs,” but has never officially stated how it defines such an AI computer. Intel recently took over this: The core aspect is, unsurprisingly, an AI accelerator either in the processor or in the graphics card, which relieves the CPU or GPU of AI algorithms. However, corresponding functions can run on all computing devices, for example on the GPU for high throughput.
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Microsoft also requires that an AI PC has a keyboard with a copilot key. Logically, Windows 11 should be preinstalled with Copilot activated. The button starts the copilot, under which Microsoft wants to bundle more and more AI functions in the future. For example, you should be able to create summaries or AI images.
Notebooks in focus
The keyboard requirement means Microsoft and PC makers will primarily market notebooks as AI PCs. Desktop PCs only meet the definition if they are complete systems with an included keyboard.
However, this may not matter to users since the AI functions run on the systems anyway. Intel defines anything that has a Core Ultra processor with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) as an AI PC. Desktop PCs will also benefit from Intel's AI initiative as soon as the Arrow Lake processor generation with an AI unit is released.
If remapping tools like SharpKeys or AutoHotKey learn the key code for Copilot, you should also be able to assign the Copilot key to any key. Microsoft is replacing the menu button on the right on its Surface devices. Some other manufacturers delete the right Windows or Control key instead.
Copilot will run locally in the future
Speaking to Tom's Hardware, Intel representatives confirmed that Copilot features will also run locally on PCs and not exclusively in the cloud. Then they no longer require an internet connection.
Intel also announced that the requirements for AI PCs will increase in the future. While one AI unit was previously sufficient, in the second generation of AI PCs it must provide at least 40 TOPS of computing power, i.e. calculate 40 trillion operations per second.
For comparison: Intel's NPU in Meteor Lake (Core Ultra 100) achieves around 11 TOPS. Together with the CPU cores (5 TOPS) and the GPU (18 TOPS), there are a total of 34 TOPS. AMD reports a total of 39 TOPS for its fastest Ryzen 8040HS mobile processors (Hawk Point). Qualcomm is doing faster on paper: The upcoming Snapdragon X Elite notebook processor achieves 65 TOPS, 45 of which are attributable to the integrated AI unit alone.
However, pure TOPS information only tells half the story. What is particularly important is the software support, which can still be improved, especially with AMD.
(mma)