This yr all the things is “AI,” no matter which means. Every new laptop, recreation, software program service, and soft-serve ice cream machine is seemingly imbued with digital sentience, no less than in response to its branding. But in terms of laptops and desktops, Microsoft has a really particular definition of “AI PC.” Surprise…it’s largely branding.

According to a presentation from Intel on Tuesday, which weirdly debuted Microsoft’s “requirements for an AI PC,” distributors will want three particular parts in the event that they wish to promote their new machines as such. One, “NPU, CPU, and GPU powered silicon.” Since that presumably contains built-in GPUs like Intel’s Xe programs, the NPU (neural processing unit) is the brand new hotness in query.

What precisely is an NPU? That’s a bit nebulous in the intervening time. An NPU is a definite (if not essentially discrete) processor designed for specific tasks, very very like a GPU for visuals, but it surely’s for “AI.” Another time period for an NPU is “AI accelerator.” But once more, precisely what it does isn’t precisely clear. For the reside demos I’ve seen, essentially the most attention-grabbing factor it’s doing is blurring the background in video calls considerably extra effectively than current chips.

Microsoft additionally calls for that an AI PC embrace its Copilot assistant…which is built into Windows 11. So, that’s principally a given. And additionally that there be a devoted Copilot button on the keyboard, usually changing the right-side Windows or Ctrl key. In some pre-CES demos I noticed final yr exhibiting off near-final laptop computer designs, this was completed with a sticker on stated key.

Finalized designs most likely use extra commonplace printing. You can see the brand new Copilot button on the keyboard for the latest Surface designs. PCWorld’s Mark Hachman compares it to the Cortana button previously seen on Microsoft’s Siri-style voice command software, which is now dead as a doornail.

Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft

If I take off my curmudgeon hat for a second, I’ll should admit that, sure, Intel and AMD’s newest processor designs both include NPU cores, and so they’re getting used to do extra stuff. Take Intel’s AI Acceleration program for instance, which is claimed to have been adopted by dozens of software program distributors. But it looks as if most of what they’re doing is offloading extremely particular duties from the CPU to the NPU to save lots of battery life. Tasks like…blurring the background in a video name or processing an OBS stream whilst you play video games. Not precisely revolutionary.

Microsoft’s Copilot system remains to be nearly completely dependent upon distant knowledge facilities to ship its giant language mannequin magic, assuming you’re willing to pay for its fanciest tricks. In the longer term Copilot will probably be extra environment friendly due to native {hardware}, together with NPUs, however there’s no indication that it’ll be capable to operate completely on native {hardware} any time quickly.

So Microsoft has a solution to that the majority well timed query, “what is an AI PC?” But it nonetheless isn’t saying an entire lot about precisely what which means for shoppers, or how a brand new AI PC is best than the PC they have already got.