Microsoft is gearing up for its ‘New Era of Work’ event on March 21, where it is expected to reveal new Surface hardware, Windows 11 features, and advancements in its Copilot AI technology. This digital-only event comes with introduction of a new category of “AI PCs” that could potentially reinvigorate PC sales.
Anticipated announcements include the launch of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6, speculated to be branded as AI PCs. These devices are rumored to be equipped with Intel’s latest Core Ultra and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processors, featuring dedicated neural processing units (NPU) to enable advanced AI capabilities.
New processors will offer significant performance and efficiency improvements, achieving all-day battery life. The Surface Pro 10 may feature an anti-reflective OLED screen with HDR support, alongside upgrades like a built-in NFC reader and an ultrawide front-facing webcam. The Surface Laptop 6 is expected to sport thinner bezels, rounded corners, and a touchpad with haptic feedback, along with USB-C and USB-A ports and a magnetic Surface Connect charger.
Intel variants of the new laptops are projected to be available for purchase in April with Qualcomm versions set to ship in June. Commercial versions of the Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 may offer additional features, such as a built-in CAC reader for the latter.
Windows 11 is also expected to receive updates with AI-driven features tailored to enhance user experience on the new Surface devices. These features may include on-device Copilot functionality enhanced Windows Studio Effects, and live captions and translations. A new Auto Super Resolution feature could improve frame rates and visual fidelity in supported games, while ‘AI Explorer’ will enable users to search for actions performed on their PC.
Although these AI features are highly anticipated, they may only be accessible on devices equipped with neural processing units (NPUs), potentially limiting their availability to a subset of Windows 11 users. Microsoft’s ‘New Era of Work’ event promises to introduce groundbreaking advancements in AI technology.
