Microsoft Abandons Copilot+ PC Brand Amid A.I. Sales Slump
Microsoft has quietly dropped its 'Copilot+ PC' brand on new devices, according to Windows Central. The technology that was introduced in 2024 to herald a new era of A.I. computers is still present, but no longer carries the label. The Surface models Microsoft released this year do not have the Copilot+ PC name.
'These are not called Copilot+ PCs,' said Brett Ostrum, who runs Surface. 'They meet all the requirements of our previous bar.'
Qualcomm, which powered the first Copilot+ PCs with its Snapdragon chips, is also moving away from the term. Kedar Kondap, a Qualcomm executive, stated that the company offers 'the same experiences, probably without just using that terminology.'
The brand was meant to set a minimum level of performance for A.I. chips known as N.P.U.s. However, it appears the devices sold well mainly because customers needed a new PC anyway and the new models happened to include an A.I. chip.
Microsoft's recall feature on the Copilot+ PCs came under heavy criticism after warnings from security researchers and was launched only after a long delay. The confusing name also contributed to its unpopularity, as it promised something that couldn't be delivered. Additionally, Microsoft's A.I. assistant, Copilot, had a weak image among users.
Some of the new Surface laptops come with just 8 gigabytes of memory, even though Copilot+ PCs originally required at least 16 gigabytes. The whole industry seems to be backing off from using the term 'A.I. PC', with Dell bringing back its storied XPS brand and Nvidia deliberately avoiding the label for its new RTX Spark laptop platform.