Microsoft Corp. MSFT is broadening its artificial intelligence hardware strategy with a new wave of compact desktop computers featuring dedicated Copilot capabilities, as manufacturers prepare to showcase their latest offerings at the Consumer Electronics Show next week.
What Happened: Asus has emerged as the first major manufacturer to unveil a Copilot Plus-compatible mini PC, announcing its NUC 14 Pro AI model with a dedicated Copilot button, reported The Verge. The device, comparable in size to Apple Inc.’s AAPL Mac Mini, signals Microsoft’s push to expand its AI features beyond laptops.
Taiwanese manufacturer Geekom is joining the initiative with three new mini PCs, including models powered by Advanced Micro Devices Inc.‘s AMD Strix Point CPUs and Qualcomm Inc.‘s QCOM Snapdragon X Elite processor.
Both processors meet Microsoft’s requirements for Copilot Plus features, which include advanced capabilities like AI-powered image generation and editing.
The mini PC developments follow Microsoft’s successful initiative last year to incorporate Copilot keys on laptop keyboards. Windows chief Pavan Davuluri indicated in an October interview with Notepad that AI advancement would drive new hardware innovation.
Why It Matters: Microsoft’s broader AI strategy extends beyond traditional computing devices. Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s executive vice president and consumer chief marketing officer, recently highlighted the company’s interest in AI-powered wearable devices, particularly in health-related applications.
This aligns with the company’s recent establishment of an AI health unit under Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman.
Intel Corp. INTC released its Core Ultra desktop CPU in October, though it fell short of Microsoft’s 40 TOPS requirement for Copilot Plus features. Industry observers anticipate that next-generation processors from both Intel and AMD will address this limitation for traditional desktop systems.
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