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Microsoft's new Windows PC will have a dedicated button for Copilot

Joanna Gao, Taipei; Jack Wu, DIGITIMES Asia 0

Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft will be adding a dedicated button for the generative AI Copilot in its latest Windows PC, allowing users to access the latest AI experience with just one button.

Microsoft stated that this can be considered the biggest change in 30 years, similar to how the introduction of the Windows key allows users to quickly interact with Microsoft's functions. In the future, users just need to press the Copilot key to quickly activate AI-related functions and start using them right away.

In 2023, Microsoft was frequently featured in AI news events due to its partnership with OpenAI and ChatGPT. Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI and has adopted GPT technology. By the second half of 2023, Microsoft slowly started to use "Copilot" as the brand identity for the AI functions in its products. Copilot can be seen in the search engine Bing, the productivity tool Microsoft 365, and even Windows 11. Copilot itself will use OpenAI's most advanced model so far, the GPT-4 Turbo.

Besides large language models (LLM), Microsoft also emphasized the collaboration with chip design companies, including AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm. They are all working to cooperate with the latest Windows PC AI experience.

Microsoft previewed that Windows 11 PCs with the Copilot button will be showcased at the upcoming CES exhibition, although no specific PC manufacturer is named. Additionally, Windows Central reported earlier that Microsoft will be launching the Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10 in the spring.

CNBC analysis pointed out that although Windows' position is not as dominant as before, Microsoft still gets 10% of its revenue from operating systems. The PC replacement cycle acts as a revenue boost for Microsoft. PC manufacturers are eagerly anticipating the 2024 replacement cycle, with Windows 11 seen as one of the major selling points.

On the other hand, some analyses expected that the number of Windows 11 devices in 2024 will not surpass its predecessor. Statcounter pointed out that in 2023, Windows held a 73% market share in desktops. Looking specifically at Windows versions, Windows 10 still holds a 67% share, while Windows 11 only has a 27% share. Windows 10, introduced in 2015, will have its official support end in October 2025.