Don\'t Worry: Copilot+ PCs Don\'t Make Your Windows 11 System Obsolete

After weeks of waiting, we're finally seeing Copilot+ computers arrive on shelves. However, you may be wondering; does Copilot+ make your Windows 11 laptop, even one you might have bought as recently as early this year, outdated? While the new AI-powered features are definitely exciting, don't worry; your Windows 11 machines aren't becoming obsolete because of them.

What Is Copilot+?

Copilot+ is Microsoft's initiative to get AI tools running on local hardware. Usually, when you chat with a service like Copilot or ask ChatGPT to do something for you, what you type is sent to an external server that processes your request. The server then sends back its reply to your PC so you can read what the AI said to you.

With the AI revolution in full force, computer manufacturers are working on ways to have these models run on your PC without sending data to an external server. In response, Microsoft has created a specification for a new kind of PC called Copilot+ computers. These PCs have neural processing units (NPUs) that can process over 40 Trillion Operations Per Second (TOPS) to run all of Copilot's AI tools locally.

What Does Copilot+ Add to Windows 11?

Because Copilot+ PCs can run AI tools on their own hardware, they gain access to features that regular Windows 11 PCs don't get. At the time of writing, Copilot+ PCs can do automatic captions generated by AI, as well as Cocreator support for Paint that can generate images. It also features Auto Super Resolution for better framerates while gaming and makes the Copilot assistant work on your own hardware.

Does Copilot+ Make Windows 11 Redundant?

So, should you throw out your Windows 11 PC and get a Copilot+ one? Not quite - at least, you don't have to if you don't want to.

The bonus of having a Copilot+ device is that you harness AI tools better. This includes both the tools that Microsoft supplies and any third-party apps that take advantage of the NPU installed on the system. An NPU can speed up existing AI tools or allow you to use far more powerful ones.

Other than that, the release of Copilot+ doesn't make Windows 11 redundant. In fact, Copilot+ builds atop Windows 11 instead of replacing it. All the Copilot+ tools are included within Windows 11's 24H2 update; if you download it onto a Copilot+-compatible computer, you get the AI tools. If they aren't compatible, you don't get them.

Should You Buy a Copilot+ PC?

Whether or not you should buy a Copilot+ depends on whether you want AI tools or not. At the very least, you shouldn't rush out to buy one because you're worried that Windows 11 is becoming redundant. After all, Copilot+ just adds to Windows 11 instead of replacing it.

So, do you want your Copilot assistant to use local hardware to process its answers? Do you want to generate AI art, or use tools to refine photos to look their absolute best? Or do you want to use Copilot+'s active caption feature to add subtitles to anything you want? Then grab a Copilot+ PC and unlock all the AI tools that Microsoft and third-party apps can offer you. You won't get them on a regular PC, after all.

Can't be fussed with all the AI tools? Rather keep using your computer as you usually do? Then you really don't need to purchase a Copilot+ device. You can keep an eye on all the developments with Copilot, but otherwise, don't feel pressured to buy one purely to keep up.

So, no; Copilot+ won't make your regular Windows 11 PC redundant. It is an upgrade on the AI front, but if you don't want to use AI tools, you're better off sticking to what you have.

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