The promise of the “AI PC” felt electrifying just months ago. Microsoft declared every Windows 11 machine would possess AI capabilities, yet the fervor surrounding Copilot+ PCs at CES 2026 felt…off. It was as if the industry was scrambling to meet a goal Microsoft itself seemed to be quietly abandoning.
A wave of Copilot+ laptops dominated the show floor, but a nagging question lingered: were these machines chasing a vision already fading from view? Microsoft’s initial emphasis on dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) has diminished, with the company now prioritizing GPUs and CPUs for AI tasks through the new Windows AI Foundry. The once-critical NPU now feels less like a necessity and more like an afterthought.
At CES 2026, NPUs finally reached the performance threshold Microsoft initially demanded – 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This was a significant hurdle for Intel, whose previous offerings struggled to deliver even a fraction of that power. For years, the “AI PC” felt like a distant promise, but manufacturers proudly showcased their newly compliant machines, finally crossing the finish line.
Intel’s Core Ultra Series 3 processors, boasting a 50 TOPS NPU, were a central focus. Beyond the NPU boost, these chips promise improved overall performance, but real-world benchmarks will be crucial to confirm these gains. Previously, Intel’s Lunar Lake hardware, while Copilot+ capable, sacrificed processing power to achieve the necessary NPU performance, creating a difficult trade-off for users.
AMD joined the NPU race with its Ryzen AI 400 series, offering a 60 TOPS NPU in both laptop and desktop configurations. Qualcomm, a launch partner for Copilot+, continues to lead with its Snapdragon X platforms, delivering an impressive 80 TOPS. However, despite the increasing numbers, the practical benefits of these NPUs remain largely unseen by everyday users.
Microsoft’s surprising shift came to light in October. Yusuf Mehdi revealed a plan to extend AI capabilities to *all* Windows 11 PCs, acknowledging that while Copilot+ PCs were leading the charge, the true goal was broader accessibility. This announcement casts a new light on the initial Copilot+ push, suggesting a change in strategy.
The reality of Copilot+ features is surprisingly modest. Beyond webcam effects and basic image generation, the benefits are limited to features like Windows Recall – a search tool for your PC usage – and simple text-based actions. These enhancements, while welcome, hardly represent a revolutionary leap forward.
During a recent conversation, a rideshare driver perfectly encapsulated the confusion. He was still using Windows 11, unaware of the Copilot+ distinction and the limited benefits it offered. This highlights a disconnect between the technical advancements and the user experience.
Looking ahead, Microsoft appears to be prioritizing a more inclusive approach, leveraging the power of GPUs and CPUs to deliver AI features to a wider range of Windows 11 machines. A future update could potentially unlock Copilot+ features on older hardware, powered by existing graphics cards.
Perhaps Microsoft prematurely focused on NPUs. Even a high-end gaming PC, equipped with a powerful discrete GPU, remains ineligible for Copilot+ features. The initial strategy feels misguided, especially considering the superior performance of GPUs for demanding AI tasks.
