At present, AMD and Intel are not yet integrated with Copilot+. Despite AMD's recent launch of its Ryzen AI 300 CPUs and Intel's preview of its Lunar Lake chips at Computex 2024, these components are not initially equipped to support the AI features available to Copilot+ PCs. However, it's important to note that support for these features will be introduced later through a software update.
Delayed support for AI features
Ryzen AI 300 and Lunar Lake include a neural processing unit (NPU) that meets Microsoft's requirements for a Copilot+ PC. However, according to The Verge, Microsoft is initially restricting access to features like Recall and Auto Super Resolution to laptops with Snapdragon X Elite and Plus chips.
James Howell, a Microsoft marketing manager, has confirmed that free updates will be provided to AMD and Intel PCs that meet the requirements, granting them access to the AI features ‘when available.' This statement has sparked optimism, with AMD's Matthew Hurwitz anticipating the arrival of Copilot+ before the end of 2024. However, it's worth noting that Microsoft and Intel have yet to confirm any specific timeline for this.
Unclear timeline and possible exclusivity
There is a level of uncertainty regarding the availability of these features. During a Q&A session following Intel's Lunar Lake reveal, Michelle Holthaus, executive vice president of client computing for Intel, stated that the company is ‘awaiting Microsoft's guidance on when devices will receive a day-one update.' This lack of clarity could potentially be due to an exclusivity deal between Microsoft and Qualcomm, although this remains speculative as there is no concrete reporting on the matter.
On June 14, AMD chief marketing officer John Taylor mentioned on LinkedIn that the company is targeting Copilot+ availability later this year.
Holthaus also noted that Lunar Lake will be rolled out from the end of the year through February of next year. While the first laptops with these chips will arrive sooner, Microsoft may delay a software update for AMD and Intel until broader availability.
There's a possibility of an exclusivity deal between Microsoft and Qualcomm. Qualcomm has referred to itself as the “exclusive” platform for Copilot+ PCs, and Microsoft has a history of signing deals with Qualcomm. While there's no concrete reporting on an exclusivity deal for Copilot+, this information provides us with a deeper understanding of the situation and the potential reasons behind Microsoft's delay in releasing Copilot+ updates for AMD and Intel.
Prospects for AMD and Intel
As previously reported, Microsoft's push for Copilot+ is as much about AI as it is about enabling Windows on Arm. Qualcomm sees a bright future with Windows, with its CEO suggesting that Snapdragon chips could feature in desktops and other form factors.
While it's true that AMD and Intel won't have access to Copilot+ features at launch, there's a silver lining. Both companies are set to eventually receive these features, which could potentially enhance the performance and capabilities of their CPUs. So, while the wait may be a bit longer, the future looks promising for AMD and Intel.
