Copilot already started invading Windows hardware earlier this year, when laptops started shipping with dedicated Copilot keys on the keyboard. Intel previously said that the Copilot key was one of the components required to meet Microsoft’s definition of an “AI PC,” along with updated neural processing unit (NPU) and Copilot pre-installed. The new Copilot PCs seem to be a subset of that category.

Intel and AMD don’t have a laptop chip yet that meets the Copilot PC criteria—that will presumably change later this year. In the meantime, we just have computers using the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chipset, which are expected to start shipping in June. Microsoft announced a new Surface Laptop and Surface Pro, and other manufacturers like Lenovo have announced laptops and 2-in-1 machines with Snapdragon chips.

The minimum hardware requirements for regular Windows 11 remain unchanged, and it’s unclear right now if Windows 12 will bump up the baseline requirements. Previous rumors indicated there could be a Windows 12 release in 2024, but the AI shakeup might have changed those plans.

Source: Windows Blog