Microsoft Ditches Copilot+ PC Branding from Surface Systems

Microsoft has quietly dropped the 'Copilot+ PC' branding from its latest Surface systems, but this move doesn't necessarily mean the end of Copilot+

The Copilot+ PC was introduced in May 2024 as a new class of Windows 11 systems focused on local AI processing, requiring an NPU capable of at least 40 TOPS, 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage.

Despite the removal of the branding, Microsoft's latest Surface PCs still meet these hardware requirements and support Copilot+ features such as Recall, Click to Do, Live Captions and other local AI functions. It seems that the change is more about rebranding than a shift in technology or functionality.

Qualcomm's SVP of Compute Kedar Kondap explained that the purpose of Copilot+ PCs was to define a certain category of devices with specific requirements, but manufacturers will continue offering these experiences without using the 'Copilot+ PC' terminology prominently.