Navigating the Future of Computing: MICROSOFT's Strategic Moves with Copilot+

As MICROSOFT and others lead us into the fourth generation of tech, they continue to innovate and test what it means to be a computer. However, they aren’t the only ones who are going to be affected by things like Copilot+. As the technology community wonders just what it all means, AMD and Intel are left temporarily disoriented.

The Curious Case of Copilot+ Exclusivity

MICROSOFT’s new Copilot+ is leading the technology pack. Users will be able to take advantage of the latest advances in AI and computer technology. However, just as this new iteration of AI is being introduced to the world, AMD and Intel, two semiconductor giants, are getting left behind. Neither AMD nor Intel’s CPUs will accept the latest AI features that Copilot+ offers. While AMD is expected to come out with Ryzen AI 300 CPUs later this year, and Intel will debut Lunar Lake chips at Computex 2024, neither of these central processing units will initially support the new features of the Copilot+ AI tool.

A Closer Look at Compatibility and Future Support

It also raises questions about why Copilot+ PCs will initially be limited to laptops and tablets with Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips – but not the AMD Ryzen AI 300 and Lunar Lake chips, which also include a NPU that meets MICROSOFT’s specifications for a Copilot+ PC. The fact that MICROSOFT has embargoed Recall and Auto Super Resolution for AMD and Intel processors at launch has also left PC industry watchers puzzled. To quote the Consumer Technology Association’s essay for World AI Day: ‘The future is here.’ But not for everyone.

MICROSOFT's Strategic Positioning and Industry Implications

James Howell, a MICROSOFT marketing manager, told me that machines originating from AMD or Intel could still gain access to the AI functionality: ‘Those PCs that meet Copilot+ requirements will receive access to the AI functionality, although we can’t share a timeline at this time.’ That sense of not knowing what the plan is, what the norms are and who has the crucial information to solve problems is everywhere in the industry: Intel’s Michelle Holthaus told me that the company is waiting to hear from MICROSOFT for information about updates. The delay also points to what we might call a strategic exclusivity play by MICROSOFT that could give Qualcomm a leg-up more broadly, at least in the short term.

Speculation and Strategy: The Qualcomm Connection

The rumoured exclusivity deal with Qualcomm adds yet another layer of complexity to the story. Qualcomm’s self-description as the ‘exclusive’ platform for Copilot+ PCs, along with its history of deals with MICROSOFT, suggest the reasons why such an arrangement might make strategic and tactical sense. That this scenario has been unconfirmed is not surprising, because the MICROSOFT Copilot deal showcases the lengths to which MICROSOFT will go to figure out ways to look further ahead than its competition, shaping the future of computing technologies well in advance through its own strategies for revenue generation and investment.

The Broader Vision: AI, Arm, and the Future of Computing

MICROSOFT’s Copilot+ push isn’t as much about the immediacy of AI as it is the general ambition of making Windows on Arm a reality. Qualcomm’s optimism about its future as a PC vendor sheds some light on MICROSOFT’s broader ambitions, too. MICROSOFT and Qualcomm have a shared vision of what the future of computing can look like: Snapdragon chips powering a variety of devices. MICROSOFT’s alignment with Qualcomm could signal MS’s broader strategies moving forward, all of which combine AI innovation and strategic growth for the Windows ecosystem.

Looking Ahead: The Path to Inclusion for AMD and Intel

Even though the research was exclusively GPU-based at the time, there’s every reason to believe that AMD and Intel – the main CPU manufacturers – will be joining the Copilot+ generation soon. The rollout is also likely to be staggered, with the Copilot+ AI features not made available to these chips until they are more generally available. Watch this space: a big step towards democratising AI in computing is approaching.

Final Thoughts: Embracing the Future Together

But for MICROSOFT, as it builds towards a future of extended AI, this history of manipulating standardisation isn’t just a story of the devices and platforms on which we all run our lives. It’s also a story of company politics, and dedicated efforts to build an ecosystem that facilitates that vision for future computing, on their devices, on their terms. When MICROSOFT excluded AMD and Intel from Copilot+ support, it may have been at the expense of the smallest players and customers. But chances are, they won’t be nearly alone.

About MICROSOFT

A trailblazer in technology, MICROSOFT has always been at the forefront of innovation. From creating cutting-edge computing and dominate software to countless other digital advancements, MICROSOFT has helped to transform the digital age. With a track record of leveraging technology for the greater good, MICROSOF... (text truncated for display) ...