MICROSOFT'S COPILOT+ PCS HIT SHELVES: WINDOWS 11'S AI LEAP FORWARD

Microsoft kicked off this week by shipping its latest batch of Copilot+ PCs, powered by an Al-enhanced Windows 11 update, marking a significant step in its push to make artificial intelligence a cornerstone of everyday computing.

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Unveiled at CES 2025 and rolled out to retailers by February 24, these devices promise smarter workflows and seamless integration, backed by the company's $80 billion AI investment for the year. With Microsoft's valuation hovering above $3 trillion, this launch isn't just about new hardware-it's a signal of where the tech giant sees the future. What's driving this rollout, how does it work, and what's in it for users? Here's the full breakdown of Microsoft's latest AI leap, straight from the source.

THE LAUNCH: COPILOT+ PCS ARRIVE

Microsoft's Copilot+ PCs hit shelves on February 24, 2025, following their CES debut in January, where the company touted them as the “fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built." According to a Microsoft blog post, this wave includes devices from partners like ASUS, Dell, and Lenovo, equipped with Intel's Core Ultra Series 2 processors and Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips. The rollout builds on the initial Copilot+ launch in June 2024, which introduced AI features like Recall-an on-device memory tool-now refined and live in preview after privacy tweaks.

The timing's no accident. Windows 10's end-of-support looms on October 14, 2025, and Microsoft's pushing hard to shift its 70% Windows 10 user base (ZDNET estimate) to Windows 11. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's Consumer Chief Marketing Officer, stated in a January press release, "2025 is the year of the Windows 11 refresh," emphasizing Copilot+ as the upgrade carrot. Retail prices start at $999, per Microsoft's site, with models like the ASUS NUC 14 Pro AI and Dell XPS 13 leading the pack-each boasting over 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) via neural processing units (NPUs).

THE TECH: AI MEETS WINDOWS 11