neural processing unit Archives

Winsage

August 17, 2025

4 reasons I’m sticking with Windows 10 — even after support ends

Many users are considering staying with Windows 10 as support for it ends on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 is seen as a practical choice for older devices that cannot run Windows 11 due to hardware requirements. It offers extensive customization options for the user interface, including a flexible Start menu and Taskbar, which contrasts with the more restricted customization in Windows 11. Windows 10 has limited AI integration, allowing users to maintain control over their systems, while Windows 11 increasingly incorporates AI features that may require specialized hardware. Windows 10 is viewed as stable and familiar, with users appreciating its reliability compared to Windows 11, which still faces bugs and stability issues. Users can opt for the Extended Security Update (ESU) program for continued security updates until October 2026 for a fee or by redeeming points from Microsoft Rewards. Enrollment in the ESU program requires a Microsoft account and can be done through the Windows Update settings.

Winsage

July 29, 2025

Revamped Task Manager, second-monitor notifications coming soon to Windows 11

Microsoft is rolling out its Copilot+ features, primarily for PCs with Intel and AMD processors, which receive updates later than Qualcomm Snapdragon+ devices. The new "agent-powered search" feature allows users to ask natural-language questions to simplify the Settings app. This functionality is supported by a neural processing unit (NPU) that processes information locally for improved speed and privacy. A tutorial for the "Click to Do" feature has also been introduced, providing action suggestions based on on-screen content. The "Second Chance Out of Box Experience" (SCOOBE) window has received negative feedback for being intrusive, prompting users to enroll in Windows Backup and switch to Microsoft Edge. Users can disable the SCOOBE screen by adjusting settings in the Notifications section. These features are being introduced across the Dev and Beta channels of the Windows Insider program, with a public release expected soon. Additionally, Microsoft is preparing for the Windows 11 25H2 update, which will introduce more features currently being deployed to version 24H2 devices.

Winsage

July 28, 2025

AdGuard joins the Windows Recall backlash party — “Leaving backdoors wide open and hoping Microsoft will always act in good faith isn’t a solid privacy strategy”

Windows Recall is a feature from Microsoft that has faced criticism for being a potential security hazard and a public relations misstep. It was introduced with the 24H2 release, which included advanced AI functionalities. The feature relies on a neural processing unit (NPU) that operates independently of the cloud to emphasize privacy and security. In April 2025, Windows Recall became widely available for Copilot+ PCs, with security measures like isolating it within a "VBS Enclave" to protect sensitive data. However, skepticism remains, leading platforms like Signal and Brave to implement their own protective measures against Windows Recall. Signal has introduced a feature to prevent Windows Recall from capturing snapshots of its app, while Brave blocks Windows Recall by default for all its browser windows. AdGuard has also released an update to enhance user privacy by allowing users to disable Windows Recall on Copilot+ PCs, expressing doubts about the effectiveness of Microsoft's security measures.

Winsage

July 25, 2025

You DO see Win 11 as an AI PC opportunity, say Dell, Intel

Dell and Intel are promoting the upgrade of PC fleets from Windows 10 to Windows 11 as a strategic opportunity for businesses to prepare for artificial intelligence (AI). Their "Windows 11 & AI PC Readiness Report" suggests that this is an ideal time for organizations to improve productivity, collaboration, and security with AI-ready PCs. A survey indicated that 80 percent of UK businesses plan to transition to Windows 11 by October 14, when support for Windows 10 ends. However, there are concerns about software and hardware compatibility, as well as the high costs associated with AI PCs, which may deter buyers. The report shows that 62 percent of IT decision-makers prefer Copilot+ AI PCs, while 64 percent believe it is critical to acquire new PCs capable of running AI applications. Despite claims of enhanced productivity with AI PCs, a study found that employees using such systems were less productive than those with traditional hardware.

Winsage

July 23, 2025

Introducing Surface Laptop 5G: Seamless connectivity, built for business

Microsoft has expanded its Surface Copilot+ PC portfolio with the introduction of the Surface Laptop 5G, a 13.8-inch device powered by Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors, set to ship on August 26. The new 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12-inch Surface Pro are available for immediate purchase. The Surface Laptop 5G features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of over 40 trillion operations per second, enhancing on-device intelligence and productivity. It includes an integrated 5G modem for continuous connectivity to Microsoft 365 Copilot and other cloud tools. The device has a dynamic antenna system with six antennas that adapt to surroundings, ensuring reliable connectivity and the ability to function as a mobile hotspot. It supports both NanoSIM and eSIM options and weighs under 3 pounds for portability. The device underwent rigorous real-world testing for performance and connectivity. IT departments can remotely manage the devices, and the Surface Management Portal offers centralized visibility into device health. The Surface Laptop 5G is part of a growing portfolio of Copilot+ PCs designed for modern business needs.

Winsage

July 12, 2025

A new Windows feature could allow your PC to fix itself

Microsoft is introducing a feature called "quick machine recovery" for Windows users, currently available in Windows 11 Build 26100.4762. This feature allows PCs to autonomously troubleshoot and fix issues after a crash, such as a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), by booting into the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE). Quick machine recovery can connect to Microsoft’s servers to send crash data for analysis, eliminating the need for users to interpret error codes. It employs cloud remediation and auto remediation methods, though auto remediation is disabled by default on home PCs. The existing Startup Repair tool will still be available as a fallback option, and users can disable quick machine recovery if desired. Additionally, the build includes a refined "semantic search" capability in Settings, integration of Microsoft’s Reading Coach app, and the ability to export Recall snapshots to third-party applications in Europe.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Microsoft’s new AI agent for Windows 11 can manage settings for you

Microsoft has introduced an AI assistant named Mu for Windows 11’s Settings, allowing users to ask questions in natural language through the search bar. Users can issue commands like “turn on dark mode” or “disable notifications for Teams,” and Mu will either navigate to the settings or execute the changes. Mu has 330 million parameters and is trained on 3.6 million examples, processing requests in under 500 milliseconds. It operates on a device’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU), requiring a Copilot+ PC for full functionality, and handles data locally, enhancing privacy and security.

Winsage

June 25, 2025

Microsoft Launches “Mu,” New On-Device AI Model for Copilot+ PCs

Microsoft Corporation unveiled a small language model named Mu on June 23, designed for local operation on personal computers, particularly Copilot+ PCs. Mu is a 330 million parameter encoder-decoder language model optimized for deployment on Neural Processing Units (NPUs), allowing for quick responses with reduced power consumption and memory usage. It was pre-trained on a dataset of hundreds of billions of educational tokens and employs advanced fine-tuning techniques, including distillation and low-rank adaptation, along with transformer enhancements like Dual LayerNorm, Rotary Positional Embeddings, and Grouped-Query Attention. Users will access Mu's capabilities through the Windows operating system's Settings function, translating natural language inputs into system commands.

Winsage

June 24, 2025

Microsoft (MSFT) Launches a New Small Language Model Called Mu

Microsoft has introduced a small language model named Mu, designed to perform complex language tasks directly on devices like Copilot+ PCs, operating on a device's Neural Processing Unit. This model improves response times and reduces power and memory consumption compared to larger cloud-based AI models. Mu is developed using insights from Microsoft's Phi models and high-quality educational data, employing techniques such as distillation and low-rank adaptation for fine-tuning. Mu features an encoder–decoder architecture that separates input and output processes, enhancing speed and minimizing latency. It incorporates innovations like rotary positional embeddings, grouped-query attention, and dual LayerNorm. Microsoft also utilized quantization to reduce memory usage and improve speed without sacrificing accuracy, making Mu ideal for on-device applications. To enhance the AI agent in Windows Settings, Mu was fine-tuned with over 3.6 million examples, improving its ability to understand and manage system settings. The model addresses ambiguous commands and provides rapid assistance with precise multi-word commands, while maintaining a compact size that is one-tenth that of similar AI tools. Analysts on Wall Street have a positive outlook on MSFT stock, giving it a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 30 Buys and five Holds, with an average price target of 6.14 per share, indicating a potential upside of 6%.

Winsage

June 24, 2025

Microsoft unveils big Windows Recall update — now showcases your most used apps and websites

Microsoft has released a new preview build of Windows 11, featuring an updated version of the Windows Recall app. The app now includes a redesigned home page that showcases recent snapshots and highlights snapshots from the user's three most frequently used apps and websites, based on the past 24 hours. The new interface aims to enhance user experience by making it easier to navigate previous tasks. Currently, the app is being tested among Insiders in the Windows 11 Beta and Dev Channels, with a wider rollout expected soon. Additionally, Microsoft is introducing features for Copilot+ PCs that require a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) of 40+ tops, including an AI model named Mu, which will allow users to search for or describe settings using natural language.