Intel has unveiled its next generation of Core Ultra laptop chips, bringing with it exciting news about the anticipated Microsoft Copilot+. This week, during the IFA event in Berlin, Intel provided insights into the launch timeline for its new technology.
Copilot+ on the Horizon
The Copilot+ feature will be supported on Lunar Lake machines, with availability set to begin in November 2024, slightly ahead of expectations. In a noteworthy development, AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 laptops will also gain access to Copilot+ starting in the same month.
The Copilot+ PC family is on the verge of expansion, as Intel confirms its entry into the program alongside the launch of the Lunar Lake series, officially known as the Intel Core Ultra 200V series. A notable detail from this announcement is that first-generation Core Ultra laptops will not be compatible, as their NPU does not meet the minimum performance specifications required for Copilot+.
However, the capabilities of AI extend beyond Copilot+, with Core Ultra 200V series laptops set to leverage features from various third-party applications, including Adobe, DaVinci Resolve, Capcut, and more. Following Intel’s announcement, a Windows blog post revealed that AMD laptops equipped with Ryzen AI 300 chips will also be included in the November rollout.
NVIDIA's Role
NVIDIA has already indicated that laptops utilizing its 40 series GPUs will also gain access to Copilot+. Intel’s announcement, coinciding with AMD’s timeline, raises the prospect of NVIDIA joining the Copilot+ initiative in the near future. Earlier this year at Computex, NVIDIA hinted that laptops featuring its 40 series GPUs would also support Copilot+, though specifics regarding timing were sparse.
This forthcoming update will be complimentary, mirroring Intel’s approach. Given NVIDIA’s substantial performance capabilities in AI compared to the NPUs from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD, it stands as a dominant player in the market. The recent developments suggest that NVIDIA may well be poised to integrate Copilot+ features before the close of 2024.
While Microsoft initially launched Copilot+ with a focus on new hardware, leaving many existing users in the lurch, the upcoming full rollout of Windows 11 24H2 is set to change that narrative. With the Copilot+ family expanding, it appears that a more inclusive approach is on the horizon.
