In Microsoft's ideal AI PC rollout in the future, the company requires developers and manufacturers to include a dedicated 'Copilot Key,' among the other requirements of the company.
AI PCs are known for their ramping development now, one that would effectively turn a computer to feature AI despite being offline, no longer cloud-based as opposed to what is popular now.
Delivering AI to PCs on hardware and software experiences is what companies like Intel, Microsoft, and AMD are pushing for now, localizing access for all.
Microsoft Requires Copilot Key for Future AI PCs said Intel
The Verge reported that a recent press briefing hosted by Intel revealed that among the many requirements of Microsoft to help build AI PCs, it wants a dedicated 'Copilot Key' for a direct experience with its chatbot.
Microsoft's Copilot Key is a dedicated key on the keyboard that features Copilot's logo on it, and once pressed, it would directly launch the chatbot to answer user's needs or assist them.
It would be like the default long press of the home button (for iPhone X and below devices) or power button (for iPhone X and later) that summons Siri directly.
Intel said that in this new venture, the company would provide its Core Ultra, offer access to Copilot, and a built-in Copilot Key to the devices.
NPUs, CPUs, GPUs, and Copilot for AI PCs
The Copilot Keys would also have to be a requirement for OEMs to include them on future devices featuring AI, apart from Intel's adherence to Microsoft's requirements.
Moreover, Microsoft also wants manufacturing partners to bring a combination of hardware and software adjustments for AI PCs, centering on neural processing units (NPUs), CPUs, and GPUs to handle the load and give access to Copilot.
AI PCs: Local AI Access for Computers
Intel has long touted the idea behind AI PCs, a new experience for the latest and most advanced technology in the world, centering on massive collaborations and developments in the industry.
Last year, Microsoft partnered with Intel and ARM to deliver the first-ever "true AI integration" coming to computers, delegating the semiconductor companies to help power the tech.
Earlier this year amidst the CES 2024 event, Intel revealed the next-gen Core processors, particularly the 14th generation, claiming that these are the chips that will help bring improved AI integration to PCs. Its focus is onboarding AI to the systems, with its i9-14900HX featuring 24 cores alongside the Core Ultra processors that focus on AI PCs.
Other companies like AMD and NVIDIA are also on the verge of developing their takes on AI PCs, following a significant integration in the world.
Intel's recent revelation paints more of what Microsoft pictures as the future of AI PCs, one that would have sufficient power thanks to CPUs, NPUs, and GPUs, and also to dedicated access to Copilot right on the keyboard.
