Microsoft has taken a significant step towards unifying its Copilot+ experience across various PC platforms. In a recent announcement, the tech giant revealed that all Copilot+ PCs, not just those powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors, will now be eligible for a suite of AI-driven features. However, there are still some nuances to consider.
Expanding Access to AI Features
The landscape of Windows users has long been characterized by fragmentation, with many still navigating between Windows 10 and Windows 11. Within Windows 11 itself, users are further divided by different versions. Over the past year, this complexity has been compounded by Microsoft’s focus on developing Copilot+ features primarily for Snapdragon X platform devices, leaving users with AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 and Intel’s Core Ultra 200 series processors in the lurch.
Fortunately, this trend is shifting. In a blog post released on Monday, Microsoft announced that PCs equipped with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, Intel Core Ultra 200V, and Snapdragon X series processors will now have access to exclusive Copilot+ experiences. These include features such as Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator. The use of the word “like” suggests that not all AI functionalities are universally available; for instance, certain capabilities, such as photo resizing, remain exclusive to the Photos app on Snapdragon-powered PCs.
This development marks a notable advancement for users of AMD and Intel processors. When Microsoft launched Copilot+ PCs in May 2024, the spotlight was firmly on Snapdragon devices, showcasing a range of AI features. Despite earlier promises to extend these capabilities to AMD and Intel systems, several months passed before any significant updates were rolled out. The introduction of Windows Recall for Copilot+ Snapdragon PCs was followed by its eventual availability for AMD and Intel-based systems in December.
Remaining Limitations
However, not all features are immediately accessible to every user. The recent blog post highlighted the Voice Access feature, designed to facilitate more intuitive communication with your PC using descriptive language. Unfortunately, this functionality is currently limited to Copilot+ PCs powered by Snapdragon chips, with plans for AMD and Intel compatibility slated for later this year.
Microsoft noted that some of these innovative experiences for Copilot+ PCs will be available through the March 2025 Windows non-security preview update, which requires the prior November 2024 non-security preview update. The rollout of these features will occur gradually over the next month via the Windows controlled feature rollout (CFR) to consumers.
For those who own a Copilot+ PC with a qualifying AMD or Intel chip, the most effective way to access the new updates is to navigate to Settings > Windows Update and enable the option to “Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available.” Users can either check for updates regularly or allow them to be automatically pushed to their devices.
