Microsoft Dumps Copilot+ PC Branding from New Surface Devices

Microsoft has quietly dropped its 'Copilot+ PC' branding from new Surface devices just two years after introducing it. The move comes as the company continues to emphasize AI processing across devices and the cloud, with a focus on local AI capabilities.

The latest Surface machines, including the 12-inch Surface Pro and 13-inch Surface Laptop, meet the technical requirements that previously defined Copilot+ hardware. However, Microsoft is no longer marketing these models under the Copilot+ PC label, according to Brett Ostrom, Corporate Vice President for Surface.

Introduced in 2024, the Copilot+ PC category was designed to identify Windows computers with dedicated AI hardware and exclusive AI experiences. The category's technical requirements included an NPU capable of delivering at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS). Microsoft also tied the category to a set of AI features specifically designed for compatible hardware.

Qualcomm, a key partner in the development of Copilot+ PCs, has also indicated that machines offering similar capabilities will likely move away from the Copilot+ PC label. This change comes after a relatively short run for the branding, which has become less prominent across the wider PC ecosystem.