Microsoft will be holding an event on March 21st to announce new Surface hardware, Windows 11 features, and the latest developments in Copilot AI. The digital-only event, dubbed the “New Era of Work,” comes as the industry prepares to launch a new class of “AI PCs.” Many are hoping that new AI-focused computers could help revive PC sales, which have slumped in recent quarters. Here’s everything we know about Microsoft’s first event of 2024.
At the upcoming event, Microsoft is likely to announce the next generation of Surface devices, namely Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6. On the other hand, some say the new machine rivals his M3 iPad Pro and M3-powered MacBook Pro in terms of raw performance. To improve performance, the tech giant may brand them as AI PCs.
According to recent reports, Zach Borden of Windows CentralThe Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 may be powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon ) is reported to be equipped with.
If Microsoft decides to opt for a new Snapdragon processor, it will be the first time the Surface Laptop will be based on an ARM chip. The report also suggests that the new NPU-powered chip will offer “significant improvements in performance and efficiency” compared to previous chips, and “deliver true all-day battery life.”
The Surface 10 Pro may look similar to its predecessor, but it is expected to ditch the LCD screen in favor of an anti-reflective OLED screen with HDR support. Other rumored upgrades include a built-in NFC reader and an ultra-wide front-facing webcam.
The Surface Laptop 6, which could be announced on March 21st, will reportedly feature thinner bezels, more rounded corners, a touchpad with haptic feedback, and dedicated Copilot keys . You may also see two USB-C ports and one USB-A port on the left, and a magnetic Surface Connect charger on the right.
Bowden claims that the Intel version of the new laptop will be available for purchase sometime in April, while the Qualcomm version will begin shipping in late June. Microsoft may also announce commercial versions of Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 with some additional features, the latter incorporating his CAC reader.
AI features in Windows 11
Touted as the first AI PC, the upcoming Surface device is expected to offer features such as Copilot on-device, enhanced Windows Studio effects, and live captioning and translation.
There’s also a new feature called Auto Super Resolution that boosts frame rates and improves visual fidelity for supported games, and an advanced version of Copilot that makes every action you take on your PC searchable. “AI Explorer” may also appear. The Windows 11 Paint app may also feature AI-powered image editing tools that use NPU.
The rumored AI features may not be exclusive to the Surface lineup, but they may only work on devices equipped with Neural Processing Units (NPUs). If this is indeed the case, it means that the vast majority of Windows 11 users will not have access to future AI features.
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Date first uploaded: March 13, 2024, 11:30 IST
